Misdiagnosed Salmonella septicemia and endarteritis due to a lactose-fermenting strain: bacteriologic and...

In a case of septicemia and endarteritis the causative agent was initially misidentified. The Salmonella had atypical biochemical properties and was resistant to numerous antibiotics. Therapy with gentamicin and cephalothin failed to eliminate the organism. Identification of the organism as a lactose-fermenting Salmonella serotype typhimurium var. copenhagen was confirmed. The possible dissemination of the isolate from Brazil was analyzed by serologic studies of family members and friends.