INVESTIGATING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERNS IN SALMONELLA ISOLATES: A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Emerging multidrug-resistant Salmonella strains pose a challenge to public Health, limiting treatment options for foodborne and invasive infections. The present study aimed at determining the antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates recovered from human, food, animal, and environmental specimens. In total, 60 Salmonella isolates were investigated, collected from human clinical specimens (45.0 %), poultry meat (25.0 %), beef (11.7 %), surface water (10.0 %), dairy products (5.0 %), and vegetables (3.3 %). Antimicrobial sensitivity testing indicated that tetracycline (61.7%) and ampicillin (56.7%) had the highest resistance rates, followed by trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (40%), cefotaxime (25%), and ciprofloxacin (23.3%). Resistance rates to chloramphenicol (15.0%), azithromycin (8.3%), and gentamicin (5.0%) were lower. Multidrug resistance (resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes) was observed in 23 isolates (38.3%). The highest rate of multidrug resistance was in poultry-derived isolates (60.0%), and the lowest was in those isolated from dairy products and vegetables. Multivariate analysis showed that the source of isolates was statistically associated with the MDR profile (χ² = 11.62, df = 4, p = 0.020). Serovar-specific analysis indicated that Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Infantis contributed disproportionately to MDR phenotypes (χ² = 13.48, df = 3, p = 0.004). Our findings highlight a significant burden of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella, particularly among food-animal and human isolates, and underscore the importance of integrated surveillance, antimicrobial stewardship, and One Health–based interventions to limit the public health consequences of resistant Salmonella serovars.