Pericardial Abscess Due to Salmonella Typhi Infection

Typhoid fever is a human-specific disease caused by subspecies of Salmonella enterica (Salmonella Typhi). It spreads through ingestion of contaminated food or water and is diagnosed through blood culture or bone marrow culture. It typically presents as an intestinal infection, with a few patients developing severe disseminated infections. Here, we report a rare case of purulent pericarditis secondary to S. Typhi infection. A 67-year-old elderly male suffered from recurrent fever, diarrhea, and abdominal pain for 7 days. Initial blood and stool cultures were positive for Salmonella, and a follow-up blood culture confirmed S. Typhi. Magnetic resonance imaging showed pericardial abscess and hepatic abscess. After pericardiocentesis, the pericardial fluid culture grew S. Typhi, confirming the diagnosis of pericardial abscess secondary to S. Typhi infection. After percutaneous drainage of the pericardial abscess and administration of effective antibiotics, the patient's symptoms improved significantly. He subsequently recovered and was discharged from the hospital. During follow-up, there were no further recurrences. Disseminated infection secondary to Salmonella Typhi is extremely rare but can lead to serious life-threatening conditions. Our patient was found to have pericardial abscess caused by S. Typhi. Effective and adequate antibiotics, along with pericardial abscess drainage, can improve symptoms, assist in diagnosis, and enhance quality of life.