TRENDS IN ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE AMONG DIARRHEAL PATHOGENS ISOLATED INTHAILAND OVER 15 YEARS

Antibiotic resistance trends were examined for Shigella species, nonty phoidal Salmonella species, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), a nd Campylobacter species isolates from indigenous persons and traveler s in Thailand for up to 15 years, Resistance to trimethoprim-sulfameth oxazole was found in >90% of Shigella and 40% of ETEC and nontyphoidal Salmonella isolates. Resistance to nalidixic acid was found in 97%-10 0% of Shigella dysenteriae 1 strains isolated between 1992 and 1995. C iprofloxacin resistance was detected in 1% of ETEC isolates in 1994 an d 1995 and in one of 349 nontyphoidal Salmonella isolates in 1995. Cip rofloxacin resistance among Campylobacter species increased from zero before 1991 to 84% in 1995 (P<.0001). Azithromycin resistance was foun d in 7%-15% of Campylobacter isolates in 1994 and 1995, as well as 15% of ETEC and 3% of Salmonella isolates in 1995. Enteric pathogens in T hailand have developed resistance to virtually all antibiotics routine ly used in the treatment of diarrhea, as well as the newer fluoroquino lone and macrolide classes of drugs.