Salmonella serotypes, Salmonella typhi phage types, and anti-microbial resistance at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica

Abstract

SUMMARYBacteriologically proved cases of salmonellosis presenting at the University Hospital have increased nearly threefold since 1957. The most striking change has been a considerable increase in the incidence of Salmonella heidelberg and Salmonella derby in the last 5 years, probably resulting from hospital acquired infection.About 80 cases of typhoid fever are reported each year in Jamaica. There has been little change in the prevalence of different phage types of Salmonella typhi since 1961. Paratyphoid fever is rare.Standardized antimicrobial disk-sensitivity testing was performed on selected surviving salmonella strains since 1964. S. typhi has remained fully sensitive to all the agents tested except streptomycin. Other salmonellas, however have shown a significant increase in antimicrobial resistance since 1970. Most of this increase was due to multiple resistance in S. heidelberg and S. derby, and the survival and dissemination of these strains in the hospital environment may be related to antibiotic usage.

Phage types of Salmonella typhi isolated in Malaysia over the 10-year period 1970–1979

“…While there has been little change in the predominant strains over the 10-year period it was evident that strains which occurred in much smaller numbers were in some instances associated with some years. Some other countries have reported little change in the prevalence of the phage type over a number of years (French, King & St Louis, 1977).…”

“…Also, the 4th commonest type in Singapore was B2 (8 %) while in Malaysia it constituted only 0.1 %. Studies in Jamaica showed that E1 constituted 60 % of all strains typed while the next commonest was phage type 45 which is almost unique to Jamaica (French, King & St. Louis, 1977).…”

In vitro susceptibility of Salmonella to various antimicrobial agents, including a new cephalosporin, Ro 13-9904

“…Multiply drug-resistant strains of Salmonella have been isolated in many parts of the world with increasing frequency (4,5,7,9,13). Among these are chloramphenicol-and ampicillin-resistant strains of Salmonella typhi (1,3,6,10 …”