Objective: Surveillance of pathogens of public health importance is the first step to determine national health policies. In our country, data on reportable diseases are collected by the Ministry of Health. Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter are among group D reportable diseases and in addition to the reporting system, data and strains from a limited number of hospitals are sent to National Enteric Pathogens Reference Laboratory for National Enteric Pathogens Laboratory Surveillance Network (UEPLA). This study analyzed yearly/seasonal distribution and antimicrobial susceptibilities of enteric pathogens in a university hospital in Turkey participating in UEPLA.

Materials and Methods: Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter strains isolated in Clinical Microbiology Laboratory of Hacettepe University Hospitals, Ankara, Turkey during 2008-2011 were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were determined by disc diffusion method for Salmonella and Shigella as recommended by CLSI and by Etest for Campylobacter as recommended by the manifacturer. In addition, Salmonella serovars, Shigella species/phases and Campylobacter species were determined at National Enteric Pathogens Reference Laboratory.

Results: Data from 171 Salmonella, 18 Shigella and 53 Campylobacter strains isolated from different patients were evaluated. Most frequent Salmonella serovar was Salmonella Enteritidis (61,4%) with only one Salmonella Typhi strain isolated. Shigella sonnei (55,6%) was the most common Shigella species. Among Campylobacter strains, 66% were identified as C. jejuni. Resistance to ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulphametoxazole, nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin were 12%, 6%, 17%, and 4% for Salmonella, and 59%, 72%, 17% and 6% for Shigella, respectively. No resistance to erythromycin was detected in Campylobacter strains while 81,8% were resistant to quinolone and 18,8% to tetracycline.

Conclusion: Foodborne diseases are still important globally. Local data collected by surveillance studies may provide important information about the epidemiology and control of these diseases.