Superficial Thrombophlebitis caused by Extensively Drug-resistant Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhi

Abstract

Salmonella enterica serovar typhi causes one of the most common blood stream infections, the typhoid fever. However, it can cause pyogenic infections involving different sites as well. Extensively drug resistant (XDR) strains of Salmonella typhi are resistant to all first line anti-typhoidal drugs (chloramphenicol, ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) as well as ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone. XDR-strains were first reported from Pakistan in 2016, and since then the strains have been spreading. These XDR Salmonella cases not only pose a therapeutic challenge but also predispose to complications as a result of prolonged illness and delayed treatment. Here, we report a case of superficial thrombophlebitis at intravenous cannula site in a 49-year male, who was being treated for XDR-typhoid fever. To the best of our knowledge, thrombophlebitis of a superficial vein is an unusual complication of Salmonella typhi, not previously reported in literature.