Purulent pleurisy caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies arizonae: a case report

Background. Salmonellosis most commonly presents clinically as typhoid fever or gastroenteritis. Pleuropulmonary infections due to Salmonella are still rare, even though they have often been described in immunocompromised patients. Case presentation. We report a rare case of purulent pleurisy caused by Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae, occurring in a 50-year-old female with breast cancer who is currently treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy along with chronic renal failure requiring haemodialysis, who presented with acute chest pain, dyspnoea and haemodynamic instability. After bacteriological identification of Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae in pleural fluid, antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. The patient was then started on a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which successfully improved her condition. Conclusion. Our case highlights the implication of Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae in purulent pleurisy in an immunocompromised patient. An early diagnosis and a proper antibiotic therapy enabled us to reduce the morbidity and mortality risk in our patient.