Salmonella strains isolated from poultry and poultry products over the period 2005-2006 have been investigated in order to ascertain the presence of extended spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) resistance. Twelve (ESC)-resistant isolates (n=1 S. Enteritidis, n=1 S. Braenderup and n=10 S. Livingstone) were characterized as SHV-12-positive. The multi-drug resistant S. Livingstone SHV-12-producing isolates, untypeable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), showed a clonal relationship by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The SHV-12 beta-lactamase is reported for the first time in Salmonella enterica strains isolated from poultry in Italy. The results suggest poultry as a source of Salmonella carrying extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) genes and highlights the need of monitoring animal productions to prevent spreading of (ESC)-resistant strains.