Salmonella paratyphi A infection in India: Incidence and phage types

Abstract
Isolation, in Delhi, of S. paratyphi A from blood cultures of patients suspected of "enteric fever" over a 2 year period is reported. Judged from the admissions and isolation rate, the incidence of infection was slightly higher from April to Sept., with the maximum isolations occurring in Sept. of both years. There was no significant difference in the infection among adults and children, or between males and females Sixty-four of the 68 strains isolated could be phage-typed and belonged to types 2, 6 and 1 in order of frequency. The difference between adults and children in the incidence of type 2 was statistically significant. The incidence of infection with S. paratyphi A and the phage types encountered in India, are briefly reviewed; in contrast to other parts of India, phage type 6 was more common in Delhi.