Salmonella and Shigella in adult diarrhoea in Addis Ababa—prevalence and antibiograms

Abstract

Ninety Shigella and 45 Salmonella strains were isolated from 1000 adult diarrhoeal out-patients from various hospitals and clinics in Addis Ababa. The Shigella species were isolated in the order of frequency of S. flexneri, S. dysenteriae, S. boydii and S. sonnei and the Salmonella in the order of Group C, Group B, S. typhi, other Group D and Groups A and E. Almost all Shigella isolates were sensitive to cephalothin, gentamicin, kanamycin, polymyxin B and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. About 17% were sensitive to the 11 drugs tested. Multiple resistance was detected in 62%, the most common to six drugs (27%). All Salmonella isolates were sensitive to gentamicin, polymyxin B and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. About 69% were sensitive to all drugs tested. 22% were multiply resistant and the most common was to eight drugs (18%).