[Retrospective study of Salmonella gastroenteritis in infants]

Abstract

Sixty-four cases of Salmonellosis were retrospectively analyzed in Jan. 1985 to Dec. 1988 at the department of pediatrics, Veteran General Hospital, Taipei. Most of the cases (78%) occurred between May and October, the most common pathogenic organism isolated was B salmonella group (65.6%). Antibiotic susceptibility to ampicillin revealed remarkably decrease from 75% (1985) down to 11.7% (1988) and the most sensitive antibiotic agent was ceftriaxone (98.3%). Blood culture were obtained in 42 cases and patients with salmonella bacteremia were found in 10 cases (23.8%). Five of 17 patients under 3 month old showed positive blood culture. Four of 5 bacteremic patients were complicated individually with convulsion, failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea and one case expired. Four of 33 patients between 3 month and 1 year were bacteremic. Two of 4 bacteremic patients were respectively complicated with meningitis and hip-joint arthritis. The average duration of salmonella shedding was 37.5 days (range 4-180 days).

In conclusion: 1. Salmonellosis hasn't decreased in the past 4 years and the resistance to ampicillin and chloramphenicol has increased. 2. Young infants are at particular risk for bacteremia and focal complication, so if salmonellosis is suspected in infants under 3 month old, blood culture should be obtained and proper antibiotic therapy should be given.