Bone and joint infections due to Salmonella

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Orthopedics
• Microbiology

Background:

• Salmonella infections are a significant cause of morbidity.
• Bone and joint infections (osteomyelitis and septic arthritis) are serious complications.
• Understanding Salmonella serotypes and risk factors is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify cases of bone and joint infections caused by Salmonella.
• To determine contributing factors and common Salmonella serotypes.
• To evaluate treatment outcomes for Salmonella-induced osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records from New York City Department of Health and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital (1964-1978).
• Identification of Salmonella serotypes involved in bone and joint infections.
• Analysis of patient factors, treatment, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• 37 cases of osteomyelitis and 9 cases of septic arthritis due to Salmonella were identified.
• Hemoglobinopathy, trauma, surgery, connective tissue disorders, and lymphoma were identified as contributing factors.
• Salmonella typhimurium and S. enteritidis were common in bone infections; C1 serogroup Salmonella predominated in joint infections (67%).
• Joint infection therapy was successful; however, 47% of acute osteomyelitis cases progressed to chronic infections due to inadequate or insufficient therapy.

Conclusions:

• Salmonella can cause significant bone and joint infections, with specific serotypes implicated in different types of infections.
• Certain patient populations are at higher risk.
• Effective and timely treatment is critical for osteomyelitis to prevent chronic disease, while joint infections generally respond well to therapy.