Epidemiological Data, Serovar Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Salmonella Species in Children, Greece 2011-2017: A Retrospective Study

Authors

  • Grigoris Grivas Penteli Children's Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Athens
  • Theano Lagousi Infectious Diseases Unit and University Research Institute for the Study of Genetic & Malignant Disorders in Childhood, 1st Department of Paediatrics, Aghia Sofia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens; Penteli Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Athens
  • Georgia Mandilara School of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health Policies, University of West Attica, National Reference Centre for Salmonella-Shigella, Athens

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.315

Keywords:

Salmonella, Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Resistance, Serovars, Children

Abstract

Objective. This study aimed to describe Salmonella epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance in Greek children over the pe­riod of 2011-2017.

Materials and Methods. A 7-year retrospective study (2011-2017) was performed, based on data recorded by the National Reference Centre for Salmonella, among children aged ≤14 years. Epidemiological data, serovar distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns were recorded.

Results. Overall, 2347 Salmonella isolates were collected (27 typhoid-paratyphoid). Salmonellosis cases increased by almost 2-fold in 2017 compared to 2011. The highest rates were reported in August, with infants being the most vulnerable group (17.9%). The majority of isolates were identified in stool samples (91%). Boys slightly outnumbered girls (~1.05:1). Salmonella Enteritidis was the most prevalent serovar (28.5%), followed by Salmo­nella Typhimurium (12.2%) and Salmonella monophasic Typhimurium (10.4%). Non-typhoid isolates displayed low resistance rates to 3rd generation cephalosporins (1%) and ciprofloxacin (0.3%), while the corresponding resistance of typhoid isolates was 10% and 5% respectively. An increasing trend of Salmonella monophasic Typhimurium was recorded, associated with high rates of multidrug resistance, reaching a percentage of 97.8% in 2017.

Conclusions. Salmonellosis epidemiology in Greek chil­dren is comparable to previously published European data. Antimicrobial resistance rates to 3rd-generation cephalosporins and ciprofloxacin for non-typhoid and typhoid-paratyphoid remain low. Notably, there is an increasing prevalence of Salmonella monophasic Typhimurium isolates, associated with multiple antimicrobial resistance.

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Published

2021-03-12

How to Cite

Grivas, G., Lagousi, T., & Mandilara, G. (2021). Epidemiological Data, Serovar Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Salmonella Species in Children, Greece 2011-2017: A Retrospective Study. Acta Medica Academica, 49(3), 255–264. https://doi.org/10.5644/ama2006-124.315

Issue

Section

Clinical Science