Cardiovascular complications of Salmonella enteritidis infection

• Published in: Canadian journal of cardiology 2010-10, Vol.26 (8), p.e323-e325
• Main Authors: Hibbert, Benjamin, MD, Costiniuk, Cecilia, MD, Hibbert, Rebecca, MD, Joseph, Philip, MD, Alanazi, Haitham, MD, Simard, Trevor, BSc, Dennie, Carole, MD, Angel, Jonathan B., MD, O’Brien, Edward R., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Aortic aneurism; Cardiovascular; Case Report; Diagnosis, Differential; Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Male; Myocarditis; Myocarditis - diagnosis; Myocarditis - drug therapy; Myocarditis - etiology; Pericarditis; Pericarditis - diagnosis; Pericarditis - drug therapy; Pericarditis - etiology; Salmonella; Salmonella enteritidis; Salmonella enteritidis - isolation & purification; Salmonella Infections - complications; Salmonella Infections - microbiology
• ISSN: 0828-282X; 1916-7075
• DOI: 10.1016/S0828-282X(10)70444-X

Salmonella has the ability to adhere to damaged endothelium, predisposing individuals to complications rarely seen with other Gram-negative organisms. Potential complications include endocarditis, infected atheroma or aneurysms, myocarditis and pericarditis. The present report describes two cases of Salmonella enteritidis -associated cardiovascular disease. Patient 1 is a young adult who presented with myopericarditis complicated by recurrent cardiac arrests following return from a tropical climate. This patient was successfully treated with a 14-day course of ciprofloxacin. Patient 2 is an elderly man who developed a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta complicating S enteritidis bacteremia, and died of this complication. Recognition of potential complications of salmonellosis, especially in individuals with risk factors, is paramount in correctly diagnosing and managing these patients.