Abstract

Diarrhoeal diseases are major cause of morbidity worldwide. In developed and developing countries, Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter species are the main bacterial causes. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria causing diarrhea in Riyadh, during a six years period. This study was performed in Riyadh capitol of Saudi Arabia between January 2005 to December 2010. The data was obtained from request forms for stool examination of patients complaining of diarrhea. Specimens were cultured; isolates were identified biochemically and serologically following conventional methods. Two percent of specimens tested were positive, 89.1% of these grew salmonella species, 5.6% Shigella species and 5.3% grew campylobacter jejuni. Most of these isolates were from the age group >1-5 years old. Cefotaxime was the most active agent against salmonella and shigella, while erythromycin was the most active agent against the C. jejuni. Salmonella, Shigella and Campylobacter species were the main isolates from stool of patient with diarrhoea. Cefotaxime was the most active agent on Salmonella and shigella species, while erythromycin was the most active agent against C. jejuni.

Key words: Diarrhea, Salmonella, Shigella campylobacter, Saudi Arabia.