Abstract:
Introduction: Salmonella and Shigella species are common causes of bacterial diarrhea from mild to
severe forms of intestinal tract infection. Worldwide, an estimated 21 million cases of gastroenteritis
are due to Salmonella, resulting in 200,000 deaths each year where 80% of deaths occur among
children under-five years of age. Shigella species is the leading pathogen among the top six
attributable pathogens causing childhood diarrhoea.
Objective: To determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella Species among under-five
children and antibiotic resistance patterns at Jimma University Medical Center and Serbo Health
Center, Southwest Ethiopia from February 17 to June 30 15/2017.
Methods: Cross-sectional study design was used to collect data. The stool samples were inoculated
on MacConkey agar, xylose lysine dextrose agar and incubated aerobically at 37oC for 18 to 24 hrs.
The same samples were plated onto Selenite F broth for enrichment of Salmonella species. All
positive stool cultures were identified and characterized on the basis of morphology, cultural
characters and biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility testing using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion
against commonly used antibiotics was done on Mueller Hinton agar. The results of the susceptibility
tests reported as susceptible, intermediate or resistant according to European Committee on
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guideline.
Results: From 348 stool samples screened, 39 samples were positive for bacterial growth. The overall
prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species was 5.2 % and 6.0% respectively. Frequently isolated
Salmonella species was Salmonella typhi (44.5%) while presumptive identification of Shigella species
showed 57.1% was Shigella flexneri. About 76.2% of Shigella species and 66.7% of Salmonella
isolates were multidrug resistant. Shigella and Salmonella species showed highest frequency of drug
resistance against ampicillin (100%, 88.9%), cefuroxime (85.7%, 72.2%) respectively.
Conclusion: Salmonella and Shigella species remain significant causes of bacterial diarrhea. Higher
level of drug resistance observed in the present study. Fluoroquinolones and ceftriaxone are still
treatment of option for Salmonella and Shigella species.
Recommendation: This study recommends health facilities to regularly update the treatment
guideline based on national and local antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of organisms and it also
recommends adopting of stool culture with antimicrobial susceptibility testing prior to treatment.
