Laboratory-Based Surveillance of Salmonella Serotype Typhi Infections in the United States

CONTEXT: Multidrug-resistant Salmonella serotype Typhi infections have been reported worldwide, but data on the incidence of resistant strains in the United States are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella Typhi infections and to identify risk factors for infection. DESIGN: Cross-sectional laboratory-based surveillance study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 293 persons with symptomatic typhoid fever who had Salmonella Typhi isolates and epidemiological information submitted to US public health departments and laboratories from June 1, 1996, to May 31, 1997. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of Salmonella Typhi isolates demonstrating resistance to 12 antimicrobial agents; patient epidemiological factors associated with drug-resistant infections. RESULTS: Median age was 21 years (range, 3 months to 84 years); 56% were male. Two hundred…