Salmonella Meningitis in a Two Months Infant from Odisha, India: A Rare Case Report

Abstract

Salmonella meningitis is a disease with high mortality in infants though incidence is rare. This article reports a case of Salmonella meningitis in a two months male infant, who presented with high fever, convulsion and difficulty in breathing. Salmonella typhi was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), that showed resistance to Cephalosporins, Fluroquinoles, Macrolides and Aminoglycosides but susceptiblity to Chloramphenicol and Cotrimaxozole. This case was admitted on fourth day of onset of illness and treated with parenteral Vancomycin and Ceftriaxone to cover both gram positive and negative bacterial agents of bacterial meningitis in a young infant, but succumbed to death on ninth day of illness. This indicated importance of S. typhi as a possible bacterial etiology and a great concern on resistance to the normally chosen antibiotics. An early suspicion can be suggested to reduce the risk of mortality. Environmental hygiene and household cleanliness practices also warrants attention, which were identified as possible risks for enteric infection in spite the baby was absolutely breast fed.