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The resistance of Salmonellae to drugs has been studied in the Netherlands since 1958. In 1972, 1973, and 1974 respectively, 14241, 13086, and 22927 strains were tested for resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin and tetracycline. From 1973 all strains were also tested for resistance to trimethoprim. In the period covered, the yearly incidence of resistance to at least one of the above drugs ranged from 39.2% to 45.6% of all strains obtained from various sources (humans, animals, animal products, sewage, etc.). A new finding in the period 1972 to 1974 was that many multiply resistant strains emerged in S. typhimurium and in S. dublin isolated from calves and cattle. In 1974, 64.4% of all strains of S. typhimurium from these animals appeared to be resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and kanamycin, and 25.5% of those of S. dublin were found to be resistant to chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Of all strains of Salmonellae examined in 1973 and 1974 respectively, 0.15% and 0.22% were resistant to trimethoprim, the main component of the twin-drug cotrimoxazol. Of the 142 strains of S. typhi isolated in 1972 to 1974 two were resistant to tetracycline only, and one was resistant to all four antibiotics. The others had a normal susceptibility pattern.

Since 1974, tetracycline resistance in salmonellae of human and porcine origin has decreased nation-wide in the Netherlands. This decrease had coincided with the ban on incorporation of tetracycline in animal feeds for growth-promotion.

From 1975-1980, about 130 000 Salmonella strains isolated from various sources were tested for resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim. Following the ban on incorporation of tetracycline in animal feeds for nutritive purposes, tetracycline resistance in S. typhimurium and S. panama strains of porcine origin dropped from about 90% in 1974 for both species, to about 34% and 1%, respectively, 1980. The incidence of resistance in human strains concurrently decreased from about 80% in 1974 to 25% and 1%, respectively, in 1980. The build-up of multiple resistance in bovine S. dublin and S. typhimurium strains, already started in 1973-74, has continued. Recently, phage type 193 S. typhimurium strains have become predominant and they are invariable resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, kanamycin, neomycin, streptomycin, sulphonamide and trimethoprim. Up to now, type 193 strains were hardly encountered in human patients, but the number of human isolates is slowly increasing. A fairly large number of multiply resistant strains belonging to S. oranienburg, S. schwarzengrund, S. typhimurium and, recently, S. krefeld have been isolated from adoptive children from the Far East.