Bacteremia Caused by Salmonella Poona in a Healthy Adult in Tokyo, Japan

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 59; no. 2; pp. 289 - 292
• Main Authors: Fukushima, Kazuaki, Yanagisawa, Naoki, Sekiya, Noritaka, Izumiya, Hidemasa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 15.01.2020; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Bacteremia; Case Report; Case reports; Ceftriaxone; Fever; Food contamination; Gastroenteritis; Headache; immunocompetent adult; Internal medicine; Intravenous administration; non-typhoidal Salmonella; Salmonella; Salmonella Poona; non-typhoidal Salmonella; Salmonella Poona; immunocompetent adult; bacteremia
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3161-19

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection is a major pathogen causing gastroenteritis among immunocompetent adults. NTS infection is mainly transmitted by contaminated food and water, but some cases are transmitted by animal contact. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Poona (S. Poona) is an NTS usually transmitted by reptiles, and cases including outbreaks of gastroenteritis have been reported previously. However, invasive infections due to this organism among immunocompetent adults are rare. We herein report a case of a 39-year-old man who was admitted to our hospital for a fever and headache. Blood cultures were positive for S. Poona, although he did not recall any exposure to reptiles. He was treated successfully with intravenous ceftriaxone without any subsequent complications. This case implies that NTS bacteremia can occur in immunocompetent adults, and the diagnosis may be challenging since there may be no clear exposure or focal physical signs.