Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella and Shigella isolates among children aged below five years with diarrhea attending Robe General Hospital and Goba Referral Hospital, South East Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Diarrheal diseases are responsible for high level of morbidity and mortality, particularly in children below 5 years. Salmonella and Shigella spp. are pathogenic microbes responsible for the major diarrheal associated mortality. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, factors associated with Salmonella and Shigella isolates infections and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among diarrheic children aged below 5 years attending BRGH and GRH, Ethiopia. METHODS: A health institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2016. One stool samples was collected from 422 diarrheic children under the ages of five and were cultured on to Hektoen Enteric (HE) and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Isolation identification of the Salmonella and Shigella isolates were conducted using standard bacteriological methods. Antibiotic susceptibility was done by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. The isolates were defined as multidrug resistant if it was resistant to two or more antimicrobial agents. Descriptive statistics were employed and logistic regression models were constructed to determine factors associated with Shigella/Salmonella prevalence. RESULTS: The prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella isolates were 6.9 and 4.3%, respectively. Children aged between 1 to 3 years were significantly associated with Salmonella infection [AOR = 19.08, 95% CI (2.68–135.86)]. The odd of prevalence of Salmonella/Shigella isolates was significantly associated with absence of latrine, absence of hand washing after latrine, and in unimmunized children in adjusted odd ratio. Unimproved water sources and hand washing before meal had also higher odd of prevalence although the difference was not significant. All Salmonella and Shigella isolates were resistant to amoxicillin (100%). In addition, all Shigella isolates were completely resistant to chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, and were multidrug resistant. However, all Salmonella and Shigella isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. CONCLUSION: There was a relatively low prevalence of Salmonella and Shigella species in the study areas and were significantly associated with lack of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. There were also higher drug resistance and multidrug resistant pattern. Personal hygiene and environmental sanitation, including access to latrine and supply of safe drinking water are suggested. Checking susceptibilities of Shigella and Salmonella isolates causing diarrhea is also suggested.