Objectives:

In this study we aimed to investigate the antimicrobial resistance and the epidemiologic characteristics of 423 human non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. isolates which were obtained from stool specimens of 11 768 patients between 1996 and 2001.

Methods:

Between 1996 and 2001, 423 Salmonella spp. isolates were obtained from the community acquired infections in Ankara, Turkey. Salmonella strains were identified by standard biochemical reactions and using spesific O and H antisera. Antimicrobial susceptibility for Ampicillin (AMP), trimethoprim–sulfametoxazole (TMP–SXT) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) was determined by the disk diffusion method according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

Results:

Species which were identified in this study were 293 (69.2%) S. enteritidis, 86 (20.3%), S. typhimurium and 44 (10.3%) others. In order to show the differences in epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance, the study was divided into two periods: 1996–1998 and 1999–2001. The isolation rates of S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium and the others were 74.2, 18.2 and 7.6%, respectively, in the first period. In the second period isolation rates were found 51.6, 29 and 18.4%, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance for (AMP and TMP-SXT) in S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium and others were found (33.0/11.6%), (31.6/16.6%) and (19.0/8.0%) in the first period and (41.0/17.0%), (42.3/19.2%) and (23.0/15.0%) in the second period, respectively. All the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin except one in other non-typhoidal Salmonella group.

Conclusions:

The increasing number of ampicillin and trimethoprim–sulfametoxazole resistant Salmonella strains makes these drugs unsuitable for empiric treatment.