ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITIES OF SALMONELLA SEROGROUPS ISOLATED FROM TURKISH CHILDREN

This study is performed to show the serogroup distribution and in-vitr o antibiotic susceptibilities of Salmonella species that cause either gastroenteritis with/without bacteremia or enteric fever at Hacettepe University ihsan Dogramaci! Children's Hospital. Of the 309 Salmonella strains evaluated, serogroup B was the most common isolate (56%) foll owed by serogroup D (33%). Antibiotic susceptibility tests using the d isk diffusion technique revealed resistance rates of 43 percent for am picillin, 41 percent for chloramphenicol, 29 percent for trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole (SXT) and 32 percent for ceftriaxone among Salmonella serogroup B. The same rates were 10, eight, seven end zero percent fo r Salmonella serogroup D, and seven, 14, and zero percent for serogrou p C, respectively. S. thyp1 strains susceptible to all antibiotics stu died except tetracycline (33% resistant). No resistance was detected a gainst the quinolones. The antibiotic resistance of Salmonella species isolated from children seems to be important especially in serogroup B. Susceptibility tests should be considered in the antimicrobial ther apy of Selmonella infections where indicated