Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Cocuk Enfeksiyon Dergisi, cilt.19, sa.4, ss.224-228, 2025 (ESCI, Scopus, TRDizin)
Objective: This study aims to investigate the demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as the antibiotic resistance profiles, of pediatric patients diagnosed with Salmonella bacteremia in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective study included pediatric patients under the age of 18 with positive blood cultures for Salmonella spp. at Çukurova University Balcalı Hospital between September 2016 and February 2025. Sociodemographic and clinical data of the patients, serogroup distribution of Salmonella isolates, and antibiotic resistance profiles were recorded. Results: A total of 16 patients were included, with a median age of 65.4 months (range=8-204 months); 4 (25%) were female, and 12 (75%) were male (F/M ratio=1:3). Nine (56.25%) patients were under five years of age, and 7 (43.75%) were five years or older. The most common symptom was fever (75%). Seasonal distribution showed that 6 (37.5%) cases occurred in summer, 3 (18.75%) in autumn, 5 (31.25%) in winter, and 2 (12.5%) in spring. The majority of patients (81.25%) had underlying immunodeficiency or hematologic-oncologic conditions. Among the Salmonella spp. isolates, one was identified as serogroup B, four as serogroup C, and four as serogroup D; serogroup typing was not performed in seven cases. The highest number of Salmonella bacteremia cases occurred in 2019. Antibiotic resistance rates were as follows: ampicillin (54.5%), ceftriaxone (50.0%), ciprofloxacin (50.0%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (6.25%), and meropenem (6.25%). The most frequently used antibiotics in treatment were meropenem, ceftriaxone/cefotaxime, and ciprofloxacin. Three patients (18.75%) died during hospitalization. Conclusion: Salmonella remains a common cause of bloodstream infections in developing countries and is often clinically indistinguishable from other febrile bacteremia pathogens. It is associated with high mortality, especially in immunocompromised and hematologic-oncologic pediatric patients. Increasing rates of antibiotic resistance in recent years have further complicated treatment protocols. Therefore, expanded studies focusing on serogroup identification and antibiotic resistance profiles are urgently needed.