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Updated: Jul 24, 2026
11:10
High-throughput Assay to Phenotype Salmonella enterica Typhimurium Association, Invasion, and Replication in Macrophages
Published on: August 11, 2014
Salmonella typhi spondylitis.
S Govender1, A H Parbhoo, M N Rasool
1King George V Hospital, Durban, South Africa. katia@med.und.ac.za
Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|November 26, 1999
Summary
Salmonella typhi spondylitis can occur in healthy individuals without prior gastrointestinal symptoms. Early diagnosis via blood cultures, Widal test, and spinal biopsy, followed by antibiotics, leads to positive patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Orthopedics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Salmonella typhi is a bacterium primarily causing typhoid fever, a systemic infection.
- Spondylitis, an inflammation of the vertebrae, can arise from various infectious agents.
- Typhoid spondylitis is a rare but serious complication of Salmonella typhi infection.
Observation:
- This study details five cases of Salmonella typhi spondylitis.
- Patients were immunocompetent and lacked preceding gastrointestinal symptoms.
- The spinal infection was the initial presentation of Salmonella typhi in these individuals.
Findings:
- Diagnosis was confirmed using blood cultures, the Widal test, and needle biopsy of affected spinal tissue.
- All five patients received appropriate antibiotic therapy tailored to the identified pathogen.
- Clinical improvement and favorable outcomes were observed in all treated patients.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for Salmonella typhi to cause spondylitis in seemingly healthy individuals.
- Emphasizes the importance of considering typhoid spondylitis in the differential diagnosis of spinal infections, even without typical typhoid fever symptoms.
- Demonstrates the efficacy of prompt antibiotic treatment for achieving successful recovery from Salmonella typhi spondylitis.
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