Acute renal dysfunction in salmonella gastroenteritis.

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Nephrology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Renal impairment is a known complication of severe Salmonella infections, often linked to shock, dehydration, or rhabdomyolysis.
• The impact of less severe Salmonella infections on kidney function remains less understood.
• Investigating kidney function in a broader range of Salmonella infection severity is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To ascertain the incidence of renal function deterioration in adult patients diagnosed with Salmonella infection.
• To compare renal function parameters between Salmonella-infected patients and those with other gastrointestinal infections.
• To identify potential causes of renal dysfunction in Salmonella gastroenteritis beyond dehydration and rhabdomyolysis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of hospitalized adult patients with microbiologically confirmed gastrointestinal infections over a two-year period.
• Comparison of biological parameters between patients with Salmonella infection and those with infections caused by other pathogens.
• Definition of renal dysfunction based on elevated serum creatinine levels (men >1.5 mg/dL, women >1.3 mg/dL).

Main Results:

• Out of 107 patients with positive stool cultures, 44 had Salmonella infection.
• Renal dysfunction was significantly more common in Salmonella patients (36%) compared to controls (5%, P<0.0001).
• No significant differences in hydration status or creatine kinase levels were found between groups, suggesting other mechanisms for renal dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Salmonella gastroenteritis in adults is frequently associated with renal dysfunction.
• The observed renal dysfunction is likely mediated by factors other than dehydration or rhabdomyolysis.
• Kidney function generally recovered, with only one patient experiencing persistent impairment.