[Comparison of Shigella susceptibility to commonly used antimicrobials in the Temuco Regional Hospital, Chile 1990 - 2001].

BACKGROUND

The permanent surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of Shigella sp in the Temuco Regional Hospital, allowed us to define the empirical use of antimicrobials in dysenteric syndrome.

AIM

To study antimicrobial susceptibility of Shigella strains collected from 1997 to May 2001 and compare the results with those reported in 1990.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Two hundred and seventeen Shigella strains, coming from stool cultures of pediatric patients, were studied.

RESULTS

In the period 1989-1990 Shigella flexneri was the main species isolated (83%) whereas, in the period 1997-2001, Shigella sonnei (55.8%) predominated. In the second period, an increase of antimicrobial resistance, as compared with the period 1989-1990, was observed for ampicillin (74.5 and 42% respectively), for cotrimoxazol (57.5 and 45% respectively) and tetracycline (64 and 8% respectively). Chloramphenicol resistance increased from 0 to 57.5%. In the second period no resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected. There was simultaneous resistance to four drugs in 30% of the strains, predominating multiresistance in S flexneri (52.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

In the two periods studied, a significant increase was detected in the resistance of Shigella strains to antimicrobials.