Spontaneous non-typhoidal Salmonella peritonitis in patients with serious underlying disorders.
Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a rare cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). Non-typhoidal Salmonella SBP has been reported in patients with relatively normal ascitic fluid protein levels. Five patients with non-typhoidal Salmonella SBP and a review of the literature are reported. These patients had chronic underlying disorders, such as malignancy, or other conditions causing immunosuppression. In previous reports, an ascitic fluid protein level above 1.5 g/dl was present in six patients, and under 1.5 g/dl in two. In the present report, ascitic fluid protein is above 2.5 g/dl in three patients and under 1.5 g/dl in one. Immunosuppression and the virulence of the organism seem to play a major role in non-typhoidal Salmonella SBP. Physicians should be alert to the possibility of non-typhoidal Salmonella infection in patients with SBP and normal protein levels in ascitic fluid.
de la Fuente-Aguado
J
J
Unit of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Xeral, E-Vigo, Spain.
Bordón
J
J
Esteban
A R
AR
Aguilar
A
A
Moreno
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium; D016896:Treatment Outcome