A New Strain Of Salmonella Highly Resistant To Antibiotics

A New Strain Of Salmonella Highly Resistant To Antibiotics

In a study which was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, was shown that a team of researchers  from Pasteur Institute from France, describe a multiresistant strain of Salmonella enterica, subspecies Salmonella kentucky. This new strain of Salmonella is highly resistant to several antibiotics, especially to ciprofloxacin,which is a part of the fluoroquinolone class of antimicrobial drugs. Ciprofloxacin is the main antibiotic used in the treatment of severe cases of Salmonella infection.

The scientists informed that the resistant strain of  Salmonella kentucky, has infected 489 people in France, England, Wales and Denmark between 2000 and 2008. It was observed that this bacteria, firstly emerged in Africa.

Salmonella Kentucky

Salmonella kentucky is the most common of Salmonella serotype which is found in poultry from America, but this seroptype has caused a few cases of illnesses. Scientists believe that widespread use of fluoroquinolones in Nigeria and Morocco may have helped this strain of Salmonella to develop antibiotic resistance. Turkeys and chickens exported from this countries and also from America  may be the carriers of this resistant strain.

In the U.S.A. are declared four antibiotic-resistant strains of Salmonella: Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella newport, Salmonella hadar and  Salmonella heidelberg. Declaring of these strains of Salmonella as resistant to antibiotics would require food testing and controls for the pathogens before the food will reach consumers.

Salmonella Infection

Salmonella heidelberg is a antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella, which was found in turkey meat and is affecting the people from U.S.A. since March, this year, killing one person and producing illnesses to others 76 people. For every case of Salmonella infection, confirmed by laboratory investigations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that are at least 30 unreported cases of Salmonella infection. It is estimated that this outbreak is responsible for more than 2.000 cases of infections.

Outbreaks caused by antibiotic-resistant Salmonella are leading to an increased rate of hospitalization and the rate of patients who die from infection with antibiotic resistant strains of Salmonella is increasing.