Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Salmonella Typhi Isolated from Pediatric Population in Lahore

Abstract

Salmonella typhi is a Gram-negative pathogen that causes typhoid fever in people. Antibiotics have played crucial role in the mitigation of typhoid and its fatality risk. However, rising multidrug-resistance (MDR) and extensively drug-resistance (XDR) in Pakistan has reduced the effectiveness of treatment. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella typhi isolated from pediatric population in Lahore. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 clinically suspected typhoid patients from March 2024 to January 2025. Blood samples were collected and cultured on blood and MacConkey agar to identify S. Typhi. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Demographic data were also collected and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Out of 100 patients, 53 (53%) were male and 47 (47%) were female. The most affected age group was 5-10 years. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed alarming resistance patterns: 37% resistance to Chloramphenicol and Azithromycin, 35% to Ciprofloxacin, 28% to Ceftriaxone, and 34% to Ampicillin and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole. All S. typhi isolates were found to be multidrug-resistant, with resistance to at least three first-line antibiotics. This study concluded that an alarming increase in antibiotic drug resistance among the children with enteric fever, highlighting the need for fast antibiotic stewardship and contamination control techniques, as well as advanced studies on S. typhi to prevent extreme outcomes.