Salmonella typhimurium abscess of the chest wall

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Case Reports
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Non-typhoid Salmonella extra-intestinal infections are rare in adults without predisposing conditions.
• Common presentations include bloodstream and urinary tract infections.
• Other sites of infection, though less common, can be involved.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report an unusual clinical course of invasive salmonellosis.
• To describe a case of Salmonella typhimurium chest wall abscess.
• To review literature on extra-intestinal non-typhoid Salmonella infections.

Main Methods:

• A case of a 73-year-old male with Salmonella typhimurium chest wall abscess is described.
• The patient had a history of gastroenteritis complicated by pneumonia and pleural effusion.
• Diagnosis was confirmed by CT scan, followed by surgical drainage and antibiotic treatment.

Main Results:

• A pericostal abscess with shirt-stud morphology was identified.
• The patient was successfully treated with surgical drainage and a 40-day course of ciprofloxacin.
• Literature review indicated that pleuropulmonary and soft-tissue infections are uncommon.

Conclusions:

• Non-typhoid Salmonella should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chest wall abscesses.
• A history of gastroenteritis complicated by pneumonia and pleural effusion may indicate risk.
• This case expands the understanding of invasive Salmonella infections in unusual sites.