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The epidemiology of salmonellosis in Italy has clearly changed over the years. The circulation of human-specific genotypes has diminished while there has been an increase in genotypes of animal origin. In the years 1994-2009, 3727 Salmonella genotypes were isolated and/or genotyped in Sardinia (Italy). The most frequent serotypes were Salmonella Enteritidis (29%) and Salmonella Typhimurium (25,7%). If we consider the years 2000-2009, 6.4% of isolated genotypes were found to be Salmonellae with the serologic profile 4,5,12:i:-, 35.8% of which were multiresistant. Molecular analyses have shown a correlation between Salmonellae 4,5,12:i:- and Salmonellae Typhimurium DT104. Further studies will be conducted to evaluate the link with other Salmonella variants with a similar serologic profile.

Non typhi-salmonella is the most common cause of hospitalization or death associated with acute diarrhea. It is usually a self limiting disease and antibiotic therapy is not required, but in immunocompromised people it is essential. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in salmonella, in future, would limit the therapeutic options. During 2002, 198 persons were hospitalized for acute gastroenteritis. The 55% of cases were female, the age ranged between 4 and 94 years and the 25% of them were > 60 years old. The 58.5% of hospitalizations occurred between June and October. Non-typhi salmonella was isolated in the stool of 49 persons, with a rate of hospitalization of 24.7% respect to other causes of gastroenteritis. The incidence of resistance that was defined as resistance to one or more drugs was 14.3%. Only one non-typhi salmonella showed a multiple resistance (> four drugs). Among all antibiotics tested, only the fluorquinolones showed a susceptibility in vitro in all strains. Non typhoidal Salmonellosis is a public healt problem in the world and it will be important to restrict the use of antibiotics in medicine and veterinary to reduce the spread of multiresistant strains.

The authors report the results of an epidemiological-clinical study concerning episodes of salmonellosis observed in Caltagirone (CT) from 1999 to 2002 and reported to the National Centre for Control of pathogen enterobacteria (enter-net Italy). Overall, two hundred and forty strains of salmonella were isolated, typed and in vitro tested for susceptibility to eleven different antibiotics. Cases were evaluated according to patients' age, risk factors and clinical findings. Salmonella enteritidis (39%) was the most prevalent serovar followed by S. typhimurium (16%), S. newport (6%), S. salamae (5%) and others. The highest rate of antibiotic resistance was observed in S. typhimurium.

The survival of fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus in sea water (35@1000 salinity) in the dark and at room temperature was evaluated. Staphylococcus aureus has been regarded for a long time as the new parameter to add to the classic ones in order to define the quality and suitability to recreational use. At the sperimental condition considered the survival of fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, Salmonella enteritidis, and Staphylococcus aureus resulted equal to 48 h, 88 h, 56 h, and 96 h respectively. Fecal coliforms resulted the most sensitive bacteria to osmotic shock while Staphylococcus aureus the most adaptable species. Our results seem to indicate the opportunity of reconsidering the microbiological parameters used for the control of beach water.

The results of chemoantibiotic sensitivity tests carried out on 626 Salmonellae strains, isolated in 1973, 1974 and 1975 at the Bacteriol. Laboratory of S. Maria Nuova Hospital, Florence (Italy), are here related. The lowest percentages of antibiotic resistance have been noted to gentamycin and colimycin. Significant differences of antibiotic resistances were observed in single tested strains: the Salmonella wien strains were polyresistant, while the Salmonella panama strains showed a very high sensitivity to all the antibiotics. The conclusion is that in order to conduct a correct and useful antibiotic therapy, the microbic sensitivity test on isolated Salmonellae strains should be always performed.