Objective: Salmonellosis and shigellosis are among the major infectious disease problems in developing countries, especially in children. The emergence of multiple resistance to the cost-effective antimicrobials used against these bacteria is a matter of concern in developing countries. This study was aimed to determine the distribution rates of serotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella and Shigella strains isolated in Konya Training and Research Hospital, Turkey.

Materials and Methods: In this study, Salmonella and Shigella strains isolated from stool samples between 1st April 2008 and 31th March 2011 were analyzed in terms of serotypes and antimicrobial resistance rates. The strains were identified by using conventional methods and automated identification system (Phoenix 100, Becton Dickinson and Co., Sparks, MD, USA). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed with the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method according to the guidelines established by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).

Results: In 326 (8.4 %) of 3883 stool samples obtained from patients with initial diagnosis of bacterial gastroenteritis, Salmonella species were isolated. Distribution of the serotypes of the Salmonella species were as follows: Salmonella serotype Enteritidis 171 (52.4%), Salmonella serotype Typhimurium 143 (43.9%), Salmonella serotype Gallinarum seven (2.1%) and Salmonella serotype Paratyphi A five (1.5%). The highest rate of resistance was determined against ampicillin, followed by chloramphenicol, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin and meropenem. All Salmonella strains were sensitive to amikacin and cefazolin. The isolation rate for Shigella species was 3.2% (126). The most common species of Shigella was S. boydii (36.5%), followed by S. dysenteriae (27%), S. sonnei (23.8%) and S. flexneri (12.7%). The rates of resistance among Shigella strains were: chloramphenicol 85.7%, ampicillin 76.2%, cefuroxime 71.4%, cefazolin 71.4%, tetracycline 41.3%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 11.1%, ciprofloxacin 11.1%, meropenem 11.1%, amikacin 9.5% and ceftriaxone 9.5%.

Conclusion: The data of this study indicated that rates of resistance to commonly-used antimicrobial drugs was relatively low among Salmonella and Shigella isolates in our region. However, high rates of multidrug- resistant Salmonella and Shigella deserve attention. Continuous monitorization of resistance is necessary for the choice of appropriate empirical antimicrobial drugs in the therapy of Salmonella and Shigella suspected cases.