New drug-resistant type of Salmonella identified

April 18, 2004

Last Updated: 2004-04-16 15:37:33 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Researchers have identified a strain of

Salmonella choleraesuis (S. choleraesuis) that is resistant to Rocephin

(ceftriaxone), an antibiotic that has been a reliable treatment in the

past. The emergence of this strain, say the investigators, could have

important public health implications.

Over the years, they point out that S. choleraesuis has developed

resistance to a variety of antibiotics, especially drugs like Cipro

(ciprofloxacin). Until now, however, the microbe had always been

sensitive to Rocephin.

In The Lancet, Dr. J. T. Ou, from Chang Gung University in Taoyuan,

Taiwan, and colleagues describe a strain of S. choleraesuis that was

isolated from a 58-year-old man with a severe blood infection.

The organism was found to be resistant to all standard anti-salmonella

antibiotics as well as to Rocephin and Cipro. Treatment with Primaxin

(imipenem-cilastatin) was unsuccessful and the patient died 7 days after

hospital admission.

The Cipro resistance was due to mutations in two of the microbe's genes,

whereas the Rocephin resistance resulted from a gene that had been

picked up in the environment.

" The appearance of this resistant S. choleraesuis, " the researchers

conclude, " is a serious threat to public health. Constant surveillance

is needed to prevents its further spread. "

SOURCE: The Lancet, April 17, 2004.

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