A systematic review of recent outbreaks and the efficacy and safety of drugs approved for the treatment of Salmonella infections
Palanisamy Sivanandy, Lim Sing Yuk, C. Yi, Isshmeet Kaur, Faith Ho Soong Ern, Priya Manirajan
Abstract
• Azithromycin, a preferred antibiotic for typhoid due to its broad-spectrum activity • Ceftriaxone should be approached with caution due to the occurrence of resistance • Fluoroquinolones are the least preferred choice in treating Salmonella infections • Amoxicillin is the best alternative agent to Fluoroquinolones for treating children • Supportive therapies are highly warranted to minimize the episodes of typhoid fever A systematic review was conducted to critically analyze the outbreaks, efficacy, and safety of drugs used to treat various Salmonella infections. Four drugs - azithromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and amoxicillin – are commonly used to treat Salmonella infections, and all four drugs were included in this review. This review found that, among these, Azithromycin and ceftriaxone were more effective in treating Salmonella infections based on the patient's length of stay in the hospital and the rate at which the fever was resolved. Fluoroquinolones are also effective in treating Salmonella infection but are not approved for use in children. Azithromycin was found to be the physicians’’ preferred choice of medication for Salmonella infection due to its less resistance development. Almost all of these drugs produce varying degrees of adverse events, but they are mild to moderate. However, azithromycin was shown to be comparatively safer than the other three drugs in terms of side effects, adverse events, and relapse associated with Salmonella treatment. Developing effective and safe therapies for all strains of Salmonella remains a priority, especially given the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant variants.