Abstract
Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections have gained global scientific attention due to the wide spectrum of illnesses they cause and associated treatment challenges. Antimicrobial therapy is critical for severe NTS infections, but the emergence of resistant strains raises concerns for public health authorities. This study focuses on the isolation of an extremely drug-resistant NTS serovar, Salmonella enterica serovar Weltevreden (S. Weltevreden), in India. The serovar was subjected to comprehensive biotyping, serotyping, antibiogram profiling, and ESBL production. The presence of bla (CTX-M-15), bla (TEM), bla (SHV), and bla (CMY-2) genes was also investigated in the isolate. The serovar was further tested for biofilm and colicin production. The findings revealed a high level of antimicrobial resistance exhibiting resistance to 16 out of the total 20 tested antimicrobial drugs viz. ampicillin, amikacin, ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, cefepime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefuroxime, gentamicin, kanamycin, meropenem, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, norfloxacin, trimethoprim. The serovar was also found to be an ESBL producer, harboring the bla (CTX-M-15) and bla (CMY-2) genes. Biofilm and colicin production were also detected in the serovar. These findings point towards the extent of drug resistance present in the NTS serovar and the need for urgent attention from the public health authorities. Although, this study reports a single case of extensively drug-resistant NTS serovar, the possibility of more such serovars circulating in the community cannot be ruled out. Hence, there is an urgent need to implement effective antibiogram surveillance among NTS to detect such serovars and to formulate effective policies regarding antibiotic usage.