Fournier’s gangrene due to Salmonella Typhimurium in a healthy male: a rare aberrant infection

Introduction: Human Salmonella infections have been classically distinguished into diseases caused by typhoidal and non-typhoidal salmonella (NTS). Typhoidal salmonella includes S. enterica serovars Typhi and Paratyphi that cause the systemic disease but are restricted to human infections, while NTS consists mainly of other serovars that predominantly cause self-limiting gastroenteritis in humans. Localisation of foci with persisting infection occurs due to dissemination of the bacteria throughout the body and can cause a variety of rare clinical syndromes at aberrant sites. Fournier’s gangrene, a rapidly progressive, often fatal, necrotizing fasciitis of the external genitalia and perineum due to Salmonella Typhimurium, is a rare manifestation and has never been reported.

Case: A 22-year-old male, apparently healthy patient with no relevant past medical history presented to surgical emergency with chief complaints of swelling of bilateral scrotal area. Infective etiology was considered and a diagnosis of fournier’s gangrene was made. Pure growth of Salmonella Typhimurium was obtained after repeated subculture and was identified biochemically and on serotyping, as Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium using specific antisera.

Conclusion: In our case report, we describe a case of fournier’s gangrene due to Salmonella Typhimurium in an otherwise healthy male to highlight the unusual presentation of Non-typhoidal salmonellae at an aberrant site. We also emphasize the importance of using selective media like Selenite F broth for isolation of Salmonella Typhimurium from a pus sample.

Click here to read the article, published in Infectious Disorders.