The case of a young woman presenting with fever, abdominal distention, and
diarrhea is presented. While hospitalized, she developed peritonitis, and a
laparotomy was performed emergently. Intraoperative and pathologic examina
tions are highly suggestive of Salmonella typhi as an etiology for her symp
toms and eventual perforation. Salmonella enteritis can be a difficult diag
nosis to make, but in most cases it is a self-limited disease process. In a
minority of cases, multidrug antibiotic therapy may be required secondary
to an increasing prevalence of resistant strains. Patients who perforate re
quire prompt operation to limit morbidity and mortality. Outcome is signifi
cantly improved in those patients by directed resection of the affected seg
ment of bowel and by aggressive perioperative care.