LOCALIZED abscesses are an infrequent complication of salmonellosis. Although osteomyelitis, meningitis, perirectal, and periappendiceal abscesses have been observed, it is surprising that so few cases of subphrenic abscess due to Salmonella have been reported. Dineen1 collected a group of 63 patients with subphrenic abscess over a 30-year period and noted only one caused by Salmonella. Also, Ochsner,2 reviewing 3,600 subdiaphragmatic collections, found none due to Salmonella. Localized Salmonella abscesses are most commonly due to Salmonella choleraesuis (35.7%)3 and are frequently associated with sickle-cell hemoglobinopathies. We have treated a patient with the rare occurrence of left subphrenic abscess and bacteremia secondary to Salmonella enteritidis which presented without a previous history of gastroenteritis, perforated viscus, or previous intraperitoneal operation.
Report of a Case
A 43-year-old Negro woman was admitted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for the first time in September 1966, with fever and malaise. Six