SALMONELLA INFECTIONS - A RETROSPECTIVE 10-YEAR ANALYSIS OF 134 CASESIN A REGIONAL-HOSPITAL IN TAIWAN

A total of 134 cases of salmonella infections have been noted during t he past 10 years in our hospital, Cases of non-typhoidal salmonellosis increased gradually but infections due to Salmonella typhi did not sh ow the same trend, Gastroenteritis was the most prevalent diagnosis in patients below I year of age and non-typhoidal bacteraemia and locali zed infections were the most prevalent in patients over 50 gears, Diab etes mellitus was an important underlying disease especially in patien ts with localized infections (86%), Travelling history played an impor tant role in cases of enteric fever, The susceptibility pattern in non -typhoidal salmonella changed markedly over the study period; multiple drug resistance was noted, The susceptibility pattern of S. typhi sho wed no significant change, Seven deaths due to salmonella infections w ere noted (5.2%); all due to non-typhoidal salmonellosis, especially s erogroup B. Age above 50 years, localized infection, infection with se rogroup B and diabetes were poor prognostic factors.