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A case of recurrent salmonella septicaemia in an infant
Postgraduate Medical Journal
|August 1, 1984
Insights
A Salmonella eastbourne infection caused recurrent septicaemia in an infant. Clearing the pathogen from the gut resolved the infection, highlighting the gut as the infection focus.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Recurrent Salmonella septicaemia poses a significant clinical challenge, particularly in infants.
- Identifying the primary source of infection is crucial for effective treatment and preventing relapse.
Observation:
- A 6-month-old infant presented with a febrile illness and Salmonella eastbourne isolated from blood and stool.
- Despite antibiotic treatment, the infant experienced two recurrences of septicaemia upon cessation of therapy.
- The gastrointestinal tract was identified as the sole focus of infection.
Findings:
- The infant's septicaemia resolved completely and did not recur after the elimination of Salmonella eastbourne from the gut.
- This suggests that the gut itself served as the persistent reservoir for the recurrent bloodstream infections.
Implications:
- The gut microbiome may play a critical role in the resolution of Salmonella infections.
- Targeting gut pathogen clearance could be a potential therapeutic strategy for recurrent Salmonella septicaemia.
- Further research into the gut-bloodstream axis in pediatric infections is warranted.
Abstract:
A 6-month-old girl was admitted with a febrile illness. Salmonella eastbourne was isolated from the stool and blood cultures. Septicaemia was treated with antibiotics but recurred twice on cessation of therapy. The only focus of infection found was the gut itself. Septicaemia did not recur following loss of the pathogen from the gut.