Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Characterizing Salmonella Typhimurium-induced Septic Peritonitis in Mice
Published on: July 29, 2022
Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A isolated from a hard-to-heal diabetic ulcer: a case report
Ayomi Dilhari1, Sujatha Pathirage2, Chinthika Gunasekara1
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka.
Abstract:
Chronically infected diabetic wounds have a polymicrobial aetiology. However, Salmonella Paratyphi A is a very rare cause of wound infection. A 76-year-old female patient with type II diabetes presented with a wound on the left leg of two months' duration. The wound was painful, erythematous and a thick, foul-smelling discharge was present. There was a history of delayed wound healing. Salmonella Paratyphi A and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated from the wound tissue. The patient was treated with cefuroxime and cloxacillin empirically and following the antibiotic susceptibility testing (ABST) report, ciprofloxacin was given for 10 days. The wound was treated with multiple debridements and topical antiseptic. On follow-up, the patient remained afebrile with subsiding discharge from the ulcer. This is the first reported case of Salmonella Paratyphi A from an infected diabetic ulcer in Sri Lanka and it serves to further define the spectrum of illnesses caused by this uncommon pathogen.
Insights
A rare case of Salmonella Paratyphi A infection in a diabetic foot ulcer is reported. This finding expands the understanding of pathogens causing chronic diabetic wound infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Diabetology
Background:
- Diabetic wounds often harbor polymicrobial infections.
- Salmonella Paratyphi A is an uncommon cause of wound infections.
Observation:
- A 76-year-old female with type II diabetes presented with a chronic, painful leg ulcer with purulent discharge.
- The wound culture revealed Salmonella Paratyphi A and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Findings:
- The patient received empirical antibiotics followed by ciprofloxacin based on antibiotic susceptibility testing.
- Surgical debridement and antiseptic topical treatment were administered.
- The patient recovered with reduced ulcer discharge and no fever.
Implications:
- This case highlights Salmonella Paratyphi A as a potential pathogen in diabetic wound infections.
- It underscores the importance of thorough microbiological investigation in complex diabetic ulcers.
- This report contributes to defining the clinical spectrum of Salmonella Paratyphi A infections.
