| Summary: | Non-typhoid <i>Salmonella</i> is one of the major causes of food-borne infections worldwide. The aim of the current study is to determine the serotype occurrence, virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance patterns of <i>Salmonella</i> isolated from hospitalized patients. The identification of <i>Salmonella</i> strains was performed according to REMIC, 2018. The susceptibility of <i>Salmonella</i> isolates was assessed against 20 antimicrobials using the disk diffusion method. Some virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes were identified using PCR. Among the 61 isolated <i>Salmonella</i> strains, seven serotypes were identified and all were positive for the virulence genes <i>invA</i>, <i>mgtC</i> and <i>sirA</i>. Critical resistance rates (>40%) were detected for tetracycline, nalidixic acid, amoxicillin and fluoroquinolones. However, resistances to ertapenem, ceftazidim, aztreonam and colistin were null. In addition, 33% of the isolated strains were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Moreover, 80% and 60% of <i>S</i>. Kentucky isolates were identified as fluoroquinolone-resistant and MDR strains, respectively. The <i>qnrB</i> gene was amplified in 63.2% of fluoroquinolone-resistant strains. The <i>dfrA1</i> gene was identified in 20% (4/20) of the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistant strains and the integrase Class 2 gene was amplified in only 8.2% (5/61) of the isolates. Our findings highlight the emergence of MDR <i>Salmonella</i> isolates. A rationalization of antimicrobial use is urgently recommended in both human and veterinary medicine.
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