Prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella in Out Patients of Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma zone, south west Ethiopi

Abstract

Food borne diseases related to unhygienic food handling practices remain a major public health problem across the globe. The problem is severe in developing countries due to limitations in securing optimal hygienic food handling practices. Data shows that an estimated 70% of cases of diarrheal diseases are associated with the consumption of foods contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.Among these microorganisms Salmonella and Shigella are the major ones. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella in Out-patients in Jimma University Specialized Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2014 to March 2014. A total of 176 stool specimens of both adult and pediatric outpatients were collected, over night enrichment with selenite F broth, cultured in to XLD agar media. After 24hr incubation the media were examined for the presence of Salmonella and Shigella colonies. Then the isolates were confirmed by biochemical test. The drug resistance patterns of the isolates were evaluated using galleries of nine commonly used antibiotics. The growth potential of Salmonella and Shigella isolates in selected traditional foods was assessed following standard methods. In the current study, 19(10.8%) Salmonella and 2(1.1%) Shigellas were isolated. The prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella are higher in children aged less than 10 years and youth aged between 20-24.In the current drug susceptibility test ,Salmonella spp showed resistance to ampicillin (100%) followed by tetracycline (47.4%) and nalidixic acid (26.3%).On the other hand Shigella spp were highly resistant (100%) to ampicillin and tetracycline. Multidrug resistance towards four drugs was observed in both pathogens. In the challenge study the pathogens grow to their infective dose in both gruel and firfir within 24hr (6.2 and 7.5log cfu/g).There was relatively greater fluctuation in pH of gruel within 24 hr, 6.2 at 0 time and ends below pH 5 whereas steady increment in pH of firfir was observed and reach to5.28 at the end of 24hr. In conclusion, this study showed that, these pathogens are still public health problems. Therefore, there needs to be frequent monitory and evaluation system so as to plan intervention strategies for at risk population in the area of problems regarding water sanitation and hygienic food handling practice to minimize the burden posed by the diseases associated with Salmonellosis and Shigellosis.