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An Allelotyping PCR for Identifying Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis, Hadar, Heidelberg, and Typhimurium
Published on: July 22, 2011
Salmonella enteritidis causing myocarditis in a previously healthy 22-year-old male
Per Sundbom1,2, Anne-Marie Suutari1, Karim Abdulhadi1
1Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Höglandssjukhuset, Eksjö, Sweden.
Abstract:
Myocarditis is mostly caused by viral infections and rarely caused by bacterial pathogens, especially in immunocompetent individuals. Bacterial myocarditis due to Salmonella is rare, especially in countries with improved sanitation that minimize contamination of Salmonella typhi serotypes. We here present a case of a previous healthy 22-year-old male that came to the emergency room with chest pain. His symptoms occurred after a period of profuse diarrhea, fever and hematochezia. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of myocarditis. Stool culture was positive for Salmonella enteritidis. Myocarditis due to Salmonella is rare but may still occur in western countries. The inter-individual response to the pathogens and its virulence mechanisms and male gender is factors for developing myocarditis. We here add to the numbers of cases with myocarditis due to S. enteritidis. A higher suspicion and more frequent ECG and troponin testing might result in an increase of patients with subclinical myocarditis.
Insights
Bacterial myocarditis from Salmonella is rare, particularly in developed nations. This case highlights Salmonella enteritidis as a potential cause of myocarditis in young, healthy males, even with improved sanitation.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Myocarditis is typically viral, with bacterial causes rare, especially in immunocompetent individuals.
- Improved sanitation reduces the incidence of Salmonella Typhi, making other Salmonella serotypes a less common cause of bacterial myocarditis.
Observation:
- A 22-year-old male presented with chest pain, preceded by diarrhea, fever, and hematochezia.
- Diagnosis of myocarditis was confirmed via MRI; stool culture identified Salmonella enteritidis.
Findings:
- This case adds to the limited number of documented instances of myocarditis caused by Salmonella enteritidis.
- Factors such as individual response to pathogen virulence and male gender may predispose individuals to developing myocarditis.
Implications:
- Salmonella enteritidis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of myocarditis, even in western countries.
- Increased clinical suspicion and routine ECG and troponin testing could identify more cases of subclinical myocarditis.
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