Salmonella sepsis and second-trimester pregnancy loss

Salmonella can produce bacteremia and disseminated disease, including infection of the intrauterine contents and fetal death. Published experience with salmonella infection in pregnancy has involved typhoid; however, nontyphoid gastroenteritis may also produce sepsis and fetal loss. We present a case of second-trimester fetal death associated with group C1 salmonella sepsis. The literature suggests that early diagnosis and treatment of salmonella infection during gestation is associated with a good pregnancy outcome. We recommend that pregnant women with diarrheal illnesses be evaluated by stool culture for salmonella infection.