Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi A infections in Cambodian children, 2012-2016

Abstract

Objectives: Enteric fever remains an important diagnostic and treatment challenge in febrile children living in the tropics. In the context of a national Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A outbreak, the objective of this retrospective study was to compare features of S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A infections in Cambodian children.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory features were reviewed for 192 blood culture-confirmed children with S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A infections presenting to a paediatric referral hospital in Siem Reap, 2012-2016.

Results: Children with S. Typhi infections were younger, were more likely to have chills and/or diarrhoea, and were more frequently hospitalized than those with S. Paratyphi A infections. Over three quarters (88.3%) of S. Typhi isolates were multidrug-resistant, compared to none of the S. Paratyphi A.

Conclusions: In this small study of Cambodian children, S. Typhi infections were more severe than S. Paratyphi A infections. Antibiotic resistance limits treatment options for enteric fever in this population.

Keywords: Cambodia; Children; Enteric fever; Paratyphoid fever; Typhoid fever.