Invasive salmonellosis (non enteric fever)

This is a form of non-typhoid salmonella infection characterised by bacteraemia and septicaemia. It is more likely to occur in infants, the elderly and the immunocompromised.

It may present with:

• a typhoid-like illness without significant diarrhoea or localising features
• severe diarrhoea with swinging high fever
• evidence of metastatic, extra-intestinal sites i.e. meninges, joints, lungs, spleen, kidneys, endocardium, atheromatous aorta and large vessels
• infants may develop meningitis and those with sickle cell anaemia may develop osteomyelitis