Extensively Drug-Resistant Typhoid Outbreak in Pakistan, Experience at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lahore; A Tip of an Iceberg

Abstract

Objective: To provide a laboratory-based surveillance report of typhoid fever cases diagnosed at a tertiary care hospital in Lahore during the ongoing outbreak. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Microbiology, Combined Military Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from Mar 2018 to Jun 2019. Methodology: All positive blood culture samples that yielded the growth of Salmonella Typhi were included in the study. The samples were dealt with according to standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: During the study period, (377) Typhoidal Salmonellae were isolated, of which 327 (86.7%) were Salmonella Typhi and 50 (13.3%) were Paratyphi A. The percentage of XDR Salmonella isolates was 41.9%. Conclusion: Extensively drug-resistant typhoid fever cases reported in this study represent just the tip of an iceberg. Therefore, nationwide surveillance efforts must be undertaken along with implementing effective preventive measures.