Salmonellosis in children with cancer: review of 42 cases

Forty-two episodes of culture-proved salmonellosis were found retrospectively among 2,262 patients treated for malignant diseases at St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis. These cases were reviewed in an effort to determine whether Salmonella infections in childhood cancer patients are associated with an increased frequency of septicemia and death, as has been reported for adults with cancer. Septicemia occurred in only 10% of the patients studied, consistent with the frequency established in general populations. There were no deaths attributable to Salmonella infection. Most of the patients (57%) with salmonellosis had gastroenteritis, and the clinical course of this syndrome was no more severe or prolonged than that seen in otherwise normal children. We recommend that management of Salmonella infections in children with cancer follow presently accepted guidelines for normal hosts.