INVESTIGATING MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT SALMONELLA TYPHI IN URBAN SLUMS

Abstract

The emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella typhi in urban slum settings pose a growing threat to global health, particularly in low-resource environments characterised by poor sanitation, overcrowding, and inadequate healthcare access. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of MDR S. typhi, identify associated risk factors, and evaluate resistance patterns among clinical and environmental samples collected from five urban slums.With culture techniques and antimicrobial susceptibility tests, 150 samples from both biology and the environment of the 300 study participants were analyzed.  Stool and blood were the samples with the highest numbers of positive results for MDR S. typhi (47% and 45%, respectively) and 42% had positive test results.  Although few E. coli strains (20%) were resistant to ceftriaxone, the resistance to ampicillin (50%), trimethoprim (40%) and ciprofloxacin (30%) was high.  It was found that out of those studied, 55% had taken antibiotics recently and almost two-thirds of participants had used self-prescribed medicines, both indicators of the high rate of MDR.  Based on the evaluation, around 30% of respondents mentioned they do not wash their hands regularly and another 25% claimed to use contaminated water for their needs.  It was found that poor hygiene, pollution in the water and the use of antibiotics all played a significant role in MDR infection (p < 0.05).  It was also discovered that 39% of the water and 37% of the food samples included bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs.  Analysis of correlations suggested that certain behavioral characters are linked to high levels of MDR.  They reveal that climate change calls for joining efforts on monitoring the environment, educating people on health issues, improving sanitation and practicing antibiotic stewardship.  It highlights the challenges of antibiotic resistance in developing countries and recommends using the One Health approach to address high rates of MDR S. typhi in cities.