Extra-intestinal non-typhoidal Salmonella infections in children

Extra-intestinal non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections are uncommon in developed countries but common in developing ones. The risk factors, clinic al features and outcome of children admitted to the Department of Paediatri cs, University of Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur from 1978 to 1998 wit h extra-intestinal NTS infections were reviewed. All positive cultures of N TS, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, synovial, pericardial and other body secretions (except stools), were included. Of the 98 cases reviewed, 56 we re boys and 42 girls. The mean age was 2.1 years (range: newborn to 14 year s). Twenty-seven children were severely immunocompromised and 21 had underl ying chronic medical disorders. Bacteraemia was the most commonly detected type of infection and meningitis the commonest focal infection. The overall mortality rate was 15%. An immunocompromised stare or underlying chronic m edical disorder was associated with increased mortality. The three serotype s most commonly isolated were S. enteritidis, S. paratyphi B and S. typhimu rium. Most isolates were sensitive to antibiotics commonly used in salmonel losis.