A SEVERE CASE OF NON TYPHOIDAL SALMONELLA ASSOCIATED WITH MULTIPLE ORGAN DAMAGE- CASE STUDY AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Immunology
• Microbiology

Background:

• A 25-year-old immunocompetent female presented with severe gastrointestinal symptoms and hypotension.
• Symptoms began after consuming contaminated food (pizza with mushroom) during travel to India.
• The patient developed severe complications including bacteremia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a severe case of Salmonella nontyphi infection in an immunocompetent individual.
• To emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate management in critical cases.
• To highlight the role of food safety practices in preventing such infections.

Main Methods:

• Clinical case reporting and patient history.
• Stool culture for pathogen identification.
• Vitek machine for precise bacterial identification (Salmonella typhi murium).
• Treatment with antibiotics (ceftriaxone, meropenem), IV fluids, and mechanical ventilation for ARDS.

Main Results:

• Salmonella nontyphi (specifically identified as Salmonella typhi murium) was confirmed as the causative agent.
• The patient developed severe gastroenteritis, bacteremia, and ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation.
• Initial antibiotic treatment showed resistance, necessitating a switch to meropenem, which led to clinical improvement.
• Serological tests ruled out any immunocompromised state.

Conclusions:

• This case underscores the potential severity of Salmonella nontyphi infections even in immunocompetent individuals.
• Timely diagnosis, appropriate antimicrobial therapy (considering resistance), and supportive care are critical for patient survival.
• Public health awareness regarding food safety practices is essential to prevent outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.