Non-typhoidal Salmonella Gastroenteritis in Al Ain Hospital United Arab Emirates

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify serogroups and antimicrobial susceptibility of non-typhoidal Salmonellas from gastroenteritis patients among out- and in-patient population of Al Ain Hospital in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates during the period of 1st April 2007 to 30th April 2013. .Methods: A retrospective study was carried out through review of the stool specimen record sent for bacteriological culture to Clinical Institute of Laboratory Services at Al Ain Hospital from 1st April 2007 to 30th April 2013. Culture and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates were carried out by using standard laboratory procedures. Serotyping was performed using commercial anti-sera. Results: During the study period of 6 years a total of 205 laboratory confirmed non-typhoidal Salmonellas were isolated from the stool of patients with diarrhea. The majority of these strains (69%) was from patients of 0-14 years of age. Salmonella group B was the most frequent serogroup (36%) followed by serogroup D (27%) and then Salmonella spp. (26%). Salmonella serogroups A & C were 1% and 10%, respectively. The most frequently detected antibiotic resistance was to Ampicillin (25%), Co-Trimaxazole (15%) and Chloramphenicol (5%). Salmonella group B was the most resistant. The majority were, however, susceptible to other drugs with low to very low resistance rates (5% to Ciprofloxacin, and 2% to Ceftriaxone). Overall, resistant strains were more prevalent among children (30%) than adults (23%). Conclusions: Salmonella gastroenteritis is an important clinical condition in children more than in adults In the United Arab Emirates. Salmonella serogroup B, D and Salmonella spp. are prevalent strains causing gastroenteritis. Most of the Salmonella serogroups isolated in this study showed a high resistance to Ampicillin in comparison to other antibiotics. The emergence of resistance against Ceftriaxone among non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. is an alarming sign.