Extensively Drug Resistant Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi Misdiagnosis In Pakistan: A Matter Of Serious Concern

There have been several outbreaks of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi that cause extensively drug resistant (XDR) typhoid fever in Pakistan. It has been observed that many clinicians use serological diagnostic tests such as Widal agglutination, and TyphiDOT that detects IgM and IgG antibodies against the outer membrane protein of S. Typhi. However, it has been confirmed by many scientists that these test may lead to misdiagnosis against XDR S. Typhi. Due to lack of implementation strategies health authorities are unable to hamper Widal or TyphiDOT tests which are still practiced in many rural and urban areas.