Toward Typhoid Fever Elimination

Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi (S Typhi) causes typhoid fever and is responsible for an estimated 9 million cases and 110,0 00 deaths globally per annum. Typhoid fever is endemic in areas where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) infrastructure is poor. Serious complications develop in approximately 10%-15% of patients if left untreated, and this is driven by inadequate diagnostic methods and the high burden of antibiotic-resistant strains, complicating clinical management and ultimately prognosis. Asymptomatic chronic carriers, in addition to acutely infected patients, contribute to continued transmission through the shedding of the organism in the feces. The high morbidity and mortality of typhoid fever in low- and middle-income countries reinforce the need for an integrated control approach, which may ultimately lead to elimination of the disease in the 21st century. Here we discuss the challenges faced in pursuit of typhoid fever elimination. (C) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.

Automated summary

Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi causes typhoid fever globally, with a high burden of cases and deaths in areas with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. Inadequate diagnostic methods and antibiotic-resistant strains contribute to serious complications in patients, while asymptomatic carriers also play a role in transmission.