Bilateral hip septic arthritis caused by nontyphoidal Salmonella group D in a 16-year-old girl with COVID-19: A case report

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2022 Jun:95:107202. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2022.107202. Epub 2022 May 17.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Nontyphoidal Salmonella infection can lead to gastroenteritis, enteric fever, and bacteremia. However, joint infections due to this bacterium are rare, and usually associated with immunosuppressive disorders.

Case presentation: A 16-year-old girl, with a recent history of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) presented with bacteremia, and bilateral hip pain after COVID-19 symptoms. Clinical presentation, laboratory features and imaging showed bilateral nontyphoidal Salmonella septic arthritis. We administered antibiotics, based on antibiotics susceptibility pattern of the isolated Salmonella.

Clinical discussion: The case is presented because reports of bilateral hip joint infection due to nontyphoidal Salmonella are rare especially after COVID-19. When the patient presents with joint discomfort, the clinician should think infection especially in immunocompromised hosts.

Conclusion: It illustrates successful management of septic arthritis requires prompt clinical diagnosis, microorganism identification, administration of appropriate systemic antibiotics and hip joint surgery.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Bilateral septic arthritis; COVID-19; Hip joint; Nontyphoidal Salmonella.