PLEURAL EMPYEMA DUE TO SALMONELLA-PARATYPHI IN A PATIENT WITH AIDS

Pleural empyema due to Salmonella has rarely been reported in immunoco mpromised patients. Here, we present a case of a 25-year old man infec ted with the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) who presented with a left-sided pleural effusion. The cause was confirmed bacteriol ogically to be due to Salmonella paratyphi. The outcome was favourable after antibiotic therapy coupled with pleural drainage. It should be recognised that pleural empyema due to Salmonella may occur in HIV-inf ected subjects and we suggest that patients presenting with pleural em pyema due to uncommon pathogens be tested for HIV-1 antibodies.