Salmonella aortic valve endocarditis presenting with rupture of a femoral artery mycotic aneurysm

The incidence of Salmonella enteritidis infections has greatly increased ov er the last few years. Cardiovascular are amongst the most severe extra-dig estive complications. The authors report a case of Salmonella enteritidis p resenting with rupture of a femoral artery mycotic aneurysm in a chronic al coholic patient. Salmonella enteritidis was isolated from blood cultures an d the operation specimen after the obligatory limb amputation. The outcome was finally favourable after appropriate antibiotic therapy with a residual , stable grade 3 aortic regurgitation. This rare condition is generally observed in immuno-compromised subjects an d carries a high mortality (40 to 70% of cases). The initial infectious sig ns may be mashed, and, in these cases, rupture of an aneurysm is often the mode of presentation. Rapid treatment is essential with, ideally, resection of the aneurysm with reestablishment of arterial continuity and adapted, p rolonged antibiotic therapy.