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

## TL;DR

A rare case of purulent pleurisy caused by Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae in an immunocompromised breast cancer patient is reported, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

## Contribution

This paper presents a novel clinical case of pleurisy caused by a rare Salmonella subspecies in an immunocompromised patient.

## Key findings

- Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae was identified in pleural fluid from a patient with breast cancer and renal failure.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing guided successful treatment, improving the patient's condition.
- The case underscores the risk of severe infections in immunocompromised individuals.

## Abstract

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.