Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns in Pediatric Enteric Fever: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the antibiotic sensitivity patterns among pediatric patients with enteric fever at the Department of Paediatrics, Bangladesh Institute of Child Health, Dhaka Shishu Hospital, during the period from July 2005 to June 2006. The primary objective was to identify the prevalent antibiotic sensitivities in order to enhance the efficacy of treatment strategies for typhoid fever in children. Methods: Ninety-eight suspected cases of enteric fever, aged between 2 and 12 years, were selected from admissions to the above-mentioned hospital. Blood culture and sensitivity testing were performed for Salmonella typhi and paratyphi. Demographic information, pre-admission antibiotic usage, and sensitivity profiles to various antibiotics, including Ceftriaxone, Cefixime, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacin, Azithromycin, Amoxicillin, Imipenem, Nalidixic acid, and Ampicillin, were analyzed. Results: The majority of patients (62.2%) were in the 5-9 years age group, and males constituted 61.22% of the study population. Blood cultures revealed 71.44% sensitivity for Salmonella typhi and 28.57% for paratyphi. Among the antibiotics tested, Ceftriaxone exhibited 100% sensitivity, followed by Cefixime (80.2%), Chloramphenicol (78.57%), Ciprofloxacin (65.20%), Azithromycin (60%), Amoxicillin (54.6%), Imipenem, Nalidixic acid (Intermediate sensitive, 56.3%), Ciprofloxacin (Intermediate sensitive, 25%), and Ampicillin (Intermediate sensitive, 18.8%). Nearly half of the patients (47.3%) received antibiotics before admission, and 43.8% of culture-positive patients had a history of pre-admission antibiotic use. Conclusion: The study concludes that understanding antibiotic sensitivity patterns is crucial for successful typhoid fever treatment in children. Ceftriaxone and Cefixime emerged as highly effective, while the unnecessary use of antibiotics prior to admission may influence sensitivity patterns. This information underscores the importance of judicious antibiotic prescribing practices to ensure optimal therapeutic outcomes in pediatric enteric fever cases.