Salmonellosis epidemiology at the Mongi Slim Hospital La Marsa (Tunisia)

The authors present an epidemiology study of Salmonella isolated in their hospital between 1989 and 1995. The purpose of the research was to determine on one hand the evolution. on the other hand the frequency according to pathological product, serotype, and age. Furthermore, susceptibility to usual antibiotics was also tested, A total of 100 strains of Salmonella were isolated, 67 % of which came from stool cultures. 22 % from blood cultures. There was a decrease in frequency : 26 strains in 1989 and 9 in 1995. Ten cases of typhoid fever were recorded. mostly among adults. No S. Paratyphi was observed. Minor salmonella were varied (14 serotypes) and occcured mostly in children (62 %). The main strain was S. Enteritidis (42 %) sensitive to antibiotics, followed by S. Wien (18 %), a more resistant serotypet. Salmonella infections evolve randomly in most cases and only rarely in epidemic form.