Epidemiological markers of Salmonella typhimurium isolates in Rome

• Published in: Journal of medical microbiology Vol. 37; no. 2; pp. 104 - 108
• Main Authors: Martini, Annarita, Filetici, Emma, Fantasia, Mirella
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01.08.1992; Society for General Microbiology
• Subjects: Bacterial Typing Techniques; Bacteriology; Bacteriophage Typing; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Colicins - biosynthesis; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; Drug Resistance, Microbial - genetics; Epidemiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infant; Microbiology; Plasmids - genetics; Rome - epidemiology; Salmonella Food Poisoning - epidemiology; Salmonella Food Poisoning - microbiology; Salmonella Infections - epidemiology; Salmonella Infections - microbiology; Salmonella typhimurium - classification; Salmonella typhimurium - genetics; Italy; Europe; Rome; Human; Plasmid; Resistance; Antibiotic; DNA; Molecular epidemiology; Lysotype; Bacteria; Isolate; Salmonella typhimurium; Enterobacteriaceae
• DOI: 10.1099/00222615-37-2-104
• ISSN: 0022-2615

Laboratorio di Batteriologia e Micologia Medica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy * Correspondence should be sent to Dr M. Fantasia. Received March 22, 1990 Accepted October 2, 1991 The phage type, antimicrobial resistance pattern, colicinogenic activity and DNA plasmid content of 172 strains of Salmonella typhimurium isolated in Rome from 1984 to 1986 were determined; 142 isolates were from patients with enteritis, 30 were from asymptomatic subjects. Most of the phage types identified were isolated during 2 or 3 of the study years; others, e.g., PT141, PT 204c and PT 194 were isolated during 1 year only, and only the last of these was isolated in large numbers. Phage typing proved most valuable in identifying epidemiologically related strains; DNA plasmid analysis was most useful in characterising further cultures of the same phage type, especially those isolated during suspected epidemics.