PHAGE TYPING AND DRUG-RESISTANCE OF SHIGELLA-SONNEI ISOLATED IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Phage typing of Shigella sonnei has been used to examine isolates from the 1991-2 sonnei dysentery outbreak in England and Wales and compare them with strains isolated during and following a widespread foodborn e outbreak in 1994 which was associated with consumption of imported l ettuce. The distribution of phage types was different in the three per iods studied with PT 3 predominating during 1991-2, PT 2 during the 'l ettuce' outbreak in the summer months and PT 6 during the subsequent m onths. PT 6 was frequently associated with travel outside the UK. Vari ation was also seen in the distribution of drug resistance patterns.