SALMONELLA ARIZONAE: AN UNCOMMON UROPATHOGEN?

Abstract

Background: Salmonella arizonae, an uncommon uropathogen, is a potentially serious cause of urinary tract infection (UTI). Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella arizonae among Gram- negative uropathogens in Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials & Methods: A total of 365 urine samples were collected over a period of four months and examined to detect the presence of bacterial pathogens. Isolates were identified and their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics was determined using the Microgen Identification Kit (GN-ID) and modified Kirby Bauer method, respectively. Results: The results were interpreted according to the methods described by Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) in 2012. A total of 61 Gram-negative bacteria comprising 19 (31.15%) E. coli, 15 (24.59%) Salmonella arizonae, 7 (11.48%) Klebsiella pneumoniae, 3 (4.92%) Klebsiella oxytoca, 6 (9.84%) Enterobacter gergoviae, 4 (6.56%) Citrobacter freundii, 4 (6.56%) Serratia marcescens, and 1 (1.64%) each of Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis and Edwardsiella tarda were isolated. The results showed that 64.1% of the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR). Salmonella arizonae showed a high degree of resistance to nalidixic acid, cotrimoxazole, gentamicin, norfloxacin, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. Salmonella arizonae were more sensitive to ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin. Conclusion: Our findings showed a high prevalence of UTI with Salmonella arizonae isolated from urine in Sokoto Metropolis.