Spontaneous non-typhoidal Salmonella peritonitis in patients with serious underlying disorders

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a rare cause of spontaneous bacterial peritonit is (SBP). Non-typhoidal Salmonella SBP has been reported in patients with r elatively normal ascitic fluid protein levels. Five patients with non-typho idal Salmonella SBP and a review of the literature are reported, These pati ents had chronic underlying disorders, such as malignancy, or other conditi ons causing immunosuppression. In previous reports, an ascitic fluid protei n level above 1.5 g/dl was present in sis patients, and under 1.5 g/dl in t wo. In the present report, ascitic fluid protein is abate 2.5 g/dl in three patients and under 1.5 g/dl in one. Immunosuppression and the virulence of the organism seem to play a major role in non-typhoidal Salmonella SBP. Ph ysicians should be alert to the possibility of non-typhoidal Salmonella inf ection in patients with SBP and normal protein levels in ascitic fluid.