Isolation and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Shigella and Salmonella Bacteria in Children with Acute Diarrhea in Amirkola Children's Hospital in Babol, in 2019

Diarrhea with salmonella and shigella infections is one of the main causes of mortality in children less than 5 years. Determining the antibiotic resistance of these bacteria is one of the most important methods in the treatment of diarrhea. This study was performed to evaluate antibiotic resistance of Salmonella and Shigella pathogenic bacteria in children with acute diarrhea referred to Amirkola Children  Hospital.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 252 stool samples collected from children aged 6 months to 5 years with acute diarrhea referred to Amirkola Hospital in 2018. Samples were cultured and the bacteria were isolated by routine methods and the identified strains were evaluated for antibiotic resistance and abundance of class I, II and III integron genes.

Out of 252 samples, 15(5.9%) were positive for Shigella spp and 13 (5.1%) were positive for Salmonella. Antibiotic resistance of Shigella and Salmonella for nalidixic acid(100%) and(54%),trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole(93%) and (0%), azithromycin (87%) and (23%), ampicillin, respectively. Ampicillin(73%) and (8%), cefotaxime (60%) and (46.1%) were observed. Of the 15 Shigella strains, all were ESBL positive (beta-lactamase positive). In Salmonella, 7 strains (53.9%) were ESBL positive. PCR results showed that 11 (73.3%), 14 (93%) and 10 (66.7%) of Shigella isolates carried intl I,II and both intlI/intlII genes. Class III integron not detected. PCR results revealed that 23% (3/13) of Salmonella isolates carried intl I, no class II,III integrons were detected.

The results showed that the frequency of Shigella infection and also their antibiotic resistance is higher than Salmonella.