Review

Molecular Epidemiology and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Salmonella enterica from Southwestern Greece
Iris Spiliopoulou, Sofia Zografou, Amalia Goula, George Dimitracopoulos, Myrto Christofidou

Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

Address of Corresponding Author

Chemotherapy 2007;53:392-396 (DOI: 10.1159/000109768)

  Key Words

• Salmonella enterica
• Serotypes
• Antibiotic resistance
• Clones

  Abstract

Background: A study was conducted at the University Hospital of Patras between January 2002 and December 2003 to investigate antibiotic resistance patterns and clonality of Salmonella enterica in southwestern Greece. Methods: Ninety-five isolates recovered from different outpatients were characterized by specific antisera and were tested for their susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents. Clones were identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of XbaI chromosomal DNA digests. Results: Five serotypes were characterized among 95 isolates, recovered mainly from children, with the predominance of Salmonellaenteritidis followed by Salmonellatyphimurium. The strains were further distinguished by PFGE to 16 clones. The majority of S.enteritidis (61 strains) belonged to clone A, already characterized in Greece, while S.typhimurium (18 isolates) belonged to 3 clones, exhibiting multiresistant phenotypes. Conclusions: One clone S.enteritidis, type A, circulates in southwestern Greece, mainly during summer, while clonality was also observed among S.typhimurium.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Myrto Christofidou, MD
Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine
University of Patras
GR-26500 Patras (Greece)
Tel. +30 2610 993 978, Fax +30 2610 994 922, E-Mail christof@med.upatras.gr

  Article Information

Received: February 7, 2006
Accepted after revision: July 24, 2006
Published online: October 12, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 5
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 17