Abstract:
Introduction
Multiple studies have shown that typhoid fever is endemic in developing countries characterized by poor hygiene. A unique way of Salmonella Typhi (S.Typhi) pathogenicity is establishing a persistent, usually asymptomatic carrier state in some infected individuals who
excrete large numbers of bacteria in faeces. This study aimed to determine the isolation rate
of S.Typhi from blood and stool samples among cases and asymptomatic individuals in the
Mukuru informal settlement and identify antibiotic resistance patterns within the same
population.
Materials and methods
We recruited 1014 outpatient participants presenting with typhoid-like symptoms in selected
health centres in Nairobi, Kenya. Bacterial isolation was done on Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate agar (XLD) and Mac Conkey agar (Oxoid), followed by standard biochemical tests.
Identification was done using API20E, and S.Typhi was confirmed by serotyping using polyvalent antisera 0–9 and monovalent antisera d. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was
used to test the antimicrobial susceptibility of S.Typhi isolates, while Multi-Drug Resistant
(MDR) strains were characterized using conventional PCR.
Results
Of 1014 participants, 54 (5%) tested positive for S.Typhi. Thirty-eight (70%) of the S.Typhi
isolated were from stool samples, while sixteen (30%) were from blood. Three (0.2%) of the
isolates were from asymptomatic carriers. Of the 54 S.Typhi isolates, 20 (37%) were MDR.
Resistance to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid was 43% and 52%, respectively. Resistance
to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (a beta-lactam inhibitor) was 2%. The BlaTEM-1 gene was present in 19/20 (95%) MDR isolates.
Conclusion
MDR S.Typhi is prevalent in Mukuru Informal settlement. The sharp increase in nalidixic
acid resistance is an indication of reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones, which are currently the recommended drugs for the treatment of typhoid fever. This study highlights the
need for effective antimicrobial stewardship and routine surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to inform policy on the prevention and control of MDR Typhoid disease.
