[Focal infections caused by non-typhi Salmonella: a review of our case series and comparison with other series]

Abstract

Nine cases of local infection due to non typhi Salmonella enterica, some of them of unusual localization, in 8 patients (mean age 64.9 +/- 12.4 years) attended in Zamora's Virgen de la Concha Hospital over a period of five years, are described. Focal salmonellosis represented 1.5% of non-typhi salmonellosis cases in that period (9 out of 606 detected cases). 6 of the 8 patients (75%) showed a predisposing disease. In two patients the previous existence of gastroenteritis due to Salmonella was assessed and only in one of them concomitant bacteremia was detected. Soft-tissue infections were the more frequent clinical feature: plantar abscess, two abdominal wall abscesses--one of them after cholecystectomy--post-pericardiotomy thoracic wall abscess and perianal abscess. Three soft-tissue infections were due to group B serotypes. 4 out of five soft-tissue infections evolved favorably with surgical treatment. The rest of the series is formed by two cases with acute cholecystitis in patients with previous cholelithiasis (one of whom relapsed originating an abdominal wall abscess), a recurrent pleural empyema and a purulent pericarditis. The pericarditis was produced by S. enteritidis. Patient showed signs of cardiac tamponade, his condition improving after pericardial drainage and parenteral and intrapericardial administration of ciprofloxacin. Epidemiologic and clinic characteristic of our series are compared with other series of focal salmonellosis.