Antibiotic resistance among Shigella serogroups isolated in Tehran, Iran (2002-2004)

Shigellosis, one of the most common bacterial diarrhoeal diseases, is endemic throughout the world. It is one of the major causes of morbidity in children with diarrhoea in Iran [1-4]. Antibiotic therapy is useful and effective for shigellosis. Treatment is critical for persons with severe disease, particularly children and immunosuppressed patients. Use of an appropriate antibiotic therapy can shorten the duration of symptoms, significantly reduce the risk of transmission, and also prevent potentially lethal complications [5-7]. However, high frequencies of resistance in