[Retrospective study of Salmonella gastroenteritis in infants].
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Sheu
C L
CL
Department of Pediatrics, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, R.O.C.
Wu
T C
TC
Hwang
B T
BT
D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012475:Salmonella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology