SUMMARY: Ince OT, Yalçin SS, Yurdakök K, Özmert EN, Aydin A, Baris Z,
Gür D. Salmonella gastroenteritis in children (clinical characteristics and
antibiotic susceptibility): comparison of the years 1995-2001 and 2002-2008.
Turk J Pediatr 2012; 54: 465-473.
We document herein the prevalence and serotype distribution among Salmonella
enterica strains isolated from children treated for diarrhea over two seven-year
periods spanning 14 years. Four hundred and eight (1.38%) S. enterica cases
were isolated among 29,601 diarrheal admissions. Among the Salmonella
isolates, 63.7% were serogroup D and 29.9% were serogroup B. Overall, 21.7%
of cases were under one year of age, with 2.1% being younger than three
months. Bloody diarrhea was found in 18.8% of the cases. The resistance rates
were 25.8%, 18.2%, 7.0%, 4.7%, and 0.3%, to ampicillin, chloramphenicol,
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin, respectively.
In conclusion, our study has revealed that the predominance of Salmonella
serogroup D continues. The clinical features of our patients were mostly mild,
with no deaths or severe complications. While resistance to antimicrobial agents
changes constantly, it is important to keep these strains under surveillance
in order to formulate policies for the rational use of antimicrobial agents.