Serotype epidemiology and patterns of antibiotic susceptibilities of salmonellae isolated in Hong Kong 1983-93.
OBJECTIVE
To study the serotype epidemiology and patterns of antibiotic susceptibilities of salmonellae isolated in Hong Kong over an eleven-year period.


METHODS
The laboratory information of 22 733 strains of salmonellae isolated from diarrhea stool samples of 7 public hospitals, 5 out-patient clinics and 2 public health laboratories and reported to the Salmonella surveillance system in Hong Kong from 1983 to 1993 were analysed.


RESULTS
The yearly total number of isolates has remained steady, while an increasing proportion of cases occurred in the > 25 years age group with a substantial decline in the < 1 age group. Males were significantly more affected than females, particularly in those < 15 years old. S. typhimurium and S. derby were the two most commonly isolated serotypes throughout the period. An outbreak of S. portsmouth occurred which accounted for 15.3% of total isolates in that year. S. enteritidis has doubled in the last 2 years, while S. typhi has more than halved over the 11-year period. The S. enteritidis increase was seen mostly in the > 25 age groups, with those < 5 years little affected. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed the typhoid and paratyphoid bacilli remained fully antibiotic sensitive, while non-typhoid non-paratyphoid isolates showed increasing resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and cotrimoxazole.


CONCLUSIONS
Laboratory monitoring of salmonella serotypes causing diarrhea and their antibiotic susceptibilities is essential as population movements and industrial activities increase in the southern parts of China.
Kam
K M
KM
Institute of Pathology, Sai Ying Pun Polyclinic, Hong Kong.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000668:Ampicillin Resistance; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002702:Chloramphenicol Resistance; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012703:Serotyping; D013753:Tetracycline Resistance
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents