Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance inSalmonellaandShigellaSpecies Isolated from Outpatients, Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the prevalence ofSalmonellaandShigellaamong outpatients in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Cross-sectional study was conducted involving a total of 176 outpatients. Stool specimens from both adult and pediatric outpatients were collected and analyzed for the presence of presumptiveSalmonellaandShigellacolonies followed by confirmation by biochemical tests. Pure cultures ofSalmonellaandShigellaspecies were further subjected to test for antibiotic resistance against the commonly used antibiotics. Furthermore, growth potential of the isolates in selected foods items was assessed following standard procedures. The result indicated that the prevalence ofSalmonellaandShigellaamong outpatients in the study area was 19 (10.8%) and 2 (1.1%), respectively. In addition,Salmonellaspecies were resistant to ampicillin (100%) followed by tetracycline (47.4%) and nalidixic acid (26.3%) whileShigellaspecies were highly resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline (100%, each). Multidrug resistance towards maximum of four drugs was observed in both pathogens. The pathogens were observed growing to their infective dose within 24 hours. In conclusion,SalmonellaandShigellaare still among microbes of public health importance in the study area. Thus, this calls for frequent monitory and evaluation of their prevalence and drug resistance patterns besides awareness development on water sanitation and hygienic food handling practices to the public at large.