Is nalidixic acid screening still valid for the detection of reduced susceptibility of fluoroquinolone with SalmonellaTyphi?

Authors

  • Seema Irfan Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Kausar Jabeen Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Umair Anwar Jilani Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Bushra Ahmed Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Jaishri Mehraj Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Tanwir Ahsan Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • Afia Zafar Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.1910

Keywords:

enteric fever, antimicrobial resistance, nalidixic acid susceptible, fluoroquinolone resistant

Abstract

Introduction: Considering the limitations of screening with nalidixic acid to detect reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S.Typhi) strains, we evaluated the use of a 30 µg nalidixic acid disc screening method in Pakistan.

Methodology: Non duplicate nalidixic acid susceptible S. Typhi isolates (246) from 2003-2008 were retrieved from the Salmonella strain bank. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin for all strains were determined by agar dilution and further rechecked by ciprofloxacin E-tests.E. coli ATCC 25922 was used as the control strain. The MIC data for ciprofloxacin were compared with nalidixic acid disk (30µg) zone diameters.

Results: Repeat testing of all S. Typhi isolates with a nalidixic acid (30µg) disk showed 100% susceptibility with an average zone diameter of 26 mm. Agar dilution testing revealed reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, with MICs of 0.125 µg /ml for three (1.2%) isolates only. Zone sizes of strains with higher MICs were significantly lower than the strains with lower MICs (20 versus 26 mm) (p value < 0.001).

Conclusion: Estimation of fluoroquinolone MICs on every nalidixic acid susceptible S. Typhi strain is not cost effective in our setting; the proportion of strains with high fluoroquinolone MICs was found to be very low. We recommend periodic fluoroquinolone MIC determination to include all isolates with a nalidixic acid borderline zone (size 20-22 mm).

Author Biographies

Seema Irfan, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Assistant Professor,

Department of Pathology Microbiology,

Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

Kausar Jabeen, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Assistant Professor

Department of Pathology & Microbiology

The Aga Khan University Hospital,

Umair Anwar Jilani, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Research officer

Department of Pathology & Microbiology

The Aga Khan University Hospital,

 

Bushra Ahmed, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Technologist

Department of Pathology & Microbiology

The Aga Khan University Hospital

Jaishri Mehraj, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Instructor,

Department of Pathology & Microbiology

The Aga Khan University Hospital,

Tanwir Ahsan, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Manager Microbiology section,

Department of Pathology & Microbiology

The Aga Khan University Hospital,

Afia Zafar, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

Professor,

Department of Pathology & Microbiology

The Aga Khan University Hospital,

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Published

2012-10-19

How to Cite

1.
Irfan S, Jabeen K, Jilani UA, Ahmed B, Mehraj J, Ahsan T, Zafar A (2012) Is nalidixic acid screening still valid for the detection of reduced susceptibility of fluoroquinolone with SalmonellaTyphi?. J Infect Dev Ctries 6:700–703. doi: 10.3855/jidc.1910

Issue

Section

Original Articles