TRENDS AND THEMES IN HUMAN NON-TYPHOIDAL SALMONELLA RESEARCH ACROSS ASIA, 2015–2024: A BIBLIOMETRIC AND NARRATIVE SYNTHESIS OF PUBLIC HEALTH EVIDENCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37268/mjphm/vol.26/no.2/art.3929Abstract
Non-typhoidal Salmonella remains a major, yet fragmented foodborne threat in Asia, driven by evolving food systems, demographic transitions, cross-border mobility, and antimicrobial resistance. This study combined bibliometric and narrative approaches to map research trends (2015-2024) and synthesise public health–relevant evidence to identify gaps and priorities. Peer-reviewed articles were retrieved from PubMed/PMC, Scopus, and Web of Science. Publication trends, keyword networks, and thematic evolution were assessed using bibliometrix R package. Evidence on burden, serovar distribution, antimicrobial resistance, and molecular epidemiology was extracted and synthesised thematically. A total of 186 studies were included, with an average annual growth rate of 21.45%. Research was concentrated in East and Southeast Asia, limiting geographical representativeness. Dominant themes were disease occurrence and surveillance, serovars, and AMR, with marked geographical heterogeneity. Studies primarily focused on paediatric, hospitalised, and invasive infections, while asymptomatic carriage and community-level burden were underrepresented. Salmonella Typhimurium and Enteritidis predominated; however, monophasic variants and shifting sequence types, notably an increase in ST34, were reported. Widespread multidrug resistance and mobile resistance genes highlight growing treatment challenges and the risk of regional dissemination. Genomic surveillance is expanding but geographically uneven. Strengthening surveillance, expanding genomic capacity, and regional coordination are crucial to address this escalating public health threat.
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