Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis Liver Abscess after Blunt Abdominal Trauma

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is among the most reported serotypes of Salmonella species worldwide, but is rarely reported as the causative agent of a liver abscess.

We present a patient with an abdominal blunt trauma. An initial abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a rupture of the right kidney and of the liver. Two days later, his physical state deteriorated and a new computed tomography scan was obtained. An extremely large 8-centimetre liver abscess was verified. Due to the unsatisfying response to antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage, we operated on the patient. An appendectomy, cholecystectomy and bisegmental liver resection were performed. An intraoperative swab from the abscess was positive for Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis. The patient was given intravenous ciprofloxacine. The post-operative course was complicated by a Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus infection of the wound, which improved with antibiotic therapy.

Blunt abdominal trauma may initiate an unpredictable course of the disease in chronic Salmonella carriers.