Antibiotic Susceptibility and Carriage Rate of Salmonella Serotypes among Healthy Individuals with History of Salmonella Infection within One Year in a University Community in Nigeria

Abstract

The increase in the rate of carrier of typhoid fever is on the increase in the recent time and this present a serious threat to the public health. Students in most cases are living in densely populated hostels with poor sanitary conditions. This coupled with poor hygienic practices constitute pre-disposing factors. This study investigates the carriage rate and antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella among students in a tertiary institution who had suffered gastroenteritis and typhoid fever within one year of infection. Seventy four (74) stool samples were obtained from students in the university. Isolates were identified using standard methods, subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility by disc diffusion method. The incidence of the infection was found to be highest among participants of 20 - 24 years age group. Fifty-one (51) faecal samples were positive for enteric pathogens. Six (11.76%) Salmonella species were isolated from stool culture and all were Salmonella paratyphi B serotype. All the Salmonella paratyphi B showed hundred percent (100%) resistance to Ceftazidime, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin clavulanic acid and Cefuroxime but were susceptible to Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin. High carriage of Salmonella observed from this study calls for proactive action since most of the isolates were resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotic drugs.