Jpn. J. Infect. Dis., 57, 116-118, 2004

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Short Communication

Emergence of Nalidixic Acid Resistance in Shigella sonnei Isolated from Patients Having Acute Diarrheal Disease: Report from Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

Bodh Raj Panhotra*, Anil Kumar Saxena and Khalifa Al-Mulhim

Division of Microbiology, Postgraduate Department of Medicine & Director General of Health, King Fahad Hospital & Tertiary Care Center, Al-Hasa 31982, Saudi Arabia

(Received December 12, 2003. Accepted March 11, 2004)


*Corresponding Author: Mailing address: Consultant Microbiology & Infection Control Officer, King Fahad Hospital & Tertiary Care Center, Al-Hofuf, Al-Hasa 31982, Saudi Arabia. Tel: +966-3-5750000 ext 1768, Fax: +966-3-5752255, E-mail: drpanhotra2000@yahoo.co.in, drpanhotra30@hotmail.com


SUMMARY: During the 5 years of the study period (October 1999 - October 2003), 110 strains of Shigella were isolated from fecal samples of patients having acute diarrheal diseases. Shigella sonnei phase 1 was the most prevalent (88/110, 80.0%) serotype. Resistance to nalidixic acid was not encountered from 1999 - 2002. Nalidixic acid resistance was observed in 6/13 (46.1%) of the S. sonnei phase 1 strains isolated from April - August 2003. Minimum inhibitory concentration to nalidixic acid among these strains was 48 - 96 mg/ml. All the six nalidixic acid resistant strains of S. sonnei phase 1 had reduced susceptibility (MIC 0.25 mg/ml) to ciprofloxacin.


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