Epidemical process and aetiological structure of salmonelloses in the Zaporizhzhia region

Abstract

The aim of the work is to conduct a comparative analysis of the salmonellosis epidemic process caused by non-typhoidal salmonellae in the Zaporizhzhia region for improving the system of epidemiological surveillance. Materials and methods. The retrospective epidemiological analysis of salmonellosis incidence in the Zaporizhzhia region was conducted using the annual reports from 2018 to 2022. The data sources included the “Report on Individual Infections and Parasitic Diseases” and “Infectious Morbidity of the Population in Ukraine”. The analysis employed standard statistical methods commonly used in medical research to evaluate the gathered results. Results. The findings suggest that the Zaporizhzhia region recorded a total of 1392 cases of salmonellosis between 2018 and 2022. Notably, the incidence rates for 2020 and 2021 significantly exceeded the national averages in Ukraine, while in 2022, there was a notable decrease of almost 2 times in the region’s salmonellosis incidence rates. Although adults accounted for the majority of cases (53.4 %), the prevalence of salmonellosis among children was alarmingly high. Among the pathogens causing salmonellosis, Enteritidis, Blegdam, and Typhimurium serovars were the most dominant. Notably, the region harbors salmonella strains that exhibit resistance to cephalosporins, ampicillin, and fluoroquinolones, reflecting concerns over antibiotic resistance patterns. Conclusions. The elevated prevalence of salmonellosis infection rates within the population of the Zaporizhzhia region underscores the pressing nature of the epidemic disease control challenge, particularly considering the heightened vulnerability of children. An additional threat to the epidemic’s well-being is the circulation of antibiotic-resistant salmonella.