Salmonella empyema: a case report

Non-typhi Salmonella enterica infection rarely presents as a pleural empyema, with only 31 cases published in the literature over the last century. We report a case of an 85-year-old female with worsening shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain, and a chest radiograph showing a right-sided pleural effusion. Thoracocentesis revealed Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to be the causative organism. This was on a background of recurrent pleural effusion secondary to congestive heart failure, with thoracocentesis one month previously showing a transudative picture. This case highlights the possibility of S. enterica as a differential diagnosis in the management of pleural effusions.