Surveillance of serotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonellaspp., Shigella spp. and Vibrio cholerae O1, 1997-1999

Abstract

In 1997, a surveillance program to assess the main bacterial pathogens associated with acute diarrheal disease was initiated by the Microbiology Group of the lnstituto Nacional de Salud in collaboration with the Public Health Laboratories (PHL) of the country and PAHO. The program objective was to identify the serotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella spp., Shigella spp, and Vibrio cholerae 01 isolates. Twenty two PHL participated with a total of 976 isolates from 1997 to 1999; 96% were clinical isolates and 4% were food isolates. 34% were Salmonella spp., 23% Shigella spp., and 42% V. cholerae 01. From Salmonella isolates, 39% were serotype Enteritidis, 27% Typhimurium, 9% group El, 5% Typhi, and 20% other serotypes. Among Shigella isolates, 67% were S. flexneriZa, 30% S. sonnei, 2% S. dysenteriae and 1 % S. boydiiand 99% of the V. cholerae01 isolates were serotype 0gawa.The study on the antimicrobial resistance determined that 56% of the Salmonella isolates were resistant and 22% of them were multiresistant, with the pattern ampicillin, tetracycline and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (SXT). 97% of Shigella isolates were resistant and 57% of them were multiresistant, with the pattern to tetracycline, ampicillin, SXT and chloramphenicol. The susceptibility of V. cholerae O1 isolates had not changed during the study period.This study ratifies the importance of surveillance on the epidemiology of these enteropathogens in Colombia. Based on this information it may be possible to treat these diseases and control the spread of antimicrobial bacterial resistance.