Abdominal aortitis and infected aneurysms due to salmonella

Three cases of salmonella aortitis with rupture of the abdominal aorta were admitted to hospitals in a limited area of Southern Sweden during 18 months. Two patients with secondarily infected aneurysms died. One patient with a non-aneurysmal aortitis and retroperitoneal abscess is alive but still hospitalized 13 months after the accomplishment of an axillo-femoral by-pass. All 3 patients were elderly males without a history of recent foreign travel. The majority of salmonella patients in the area during the same time period were younger and had acquired the infection abroad. The epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of salmonella aortitis is reviewed.