Disseminated Enteric Salmonella Infection Associated With Empyema and Septic Arthritis in an Immunocompromised Patient

Thoracic empyema is a collection of infectious material (pus) in the pleural cavity. Salmonella enterica species rarely cause pleuropulmonary infections. This condition poses a significant challenge in diagnosis and management due to its atypical presentation and potential for severe complications. This is a case of an immunocompromised host with glioblastoma who presented with a large loculated fluid collection in the left pleural space. The patient received broad-spectrum antibiotics and underwent urgent chest tube placement and drainage of pus, which grew Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica. He was also found to be bacteremic with the same organism. Subsequently, he underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with decortication and evacuation of the empyema. Even though the prognosis for empyema is generally unfavorable, with increased morbidity and mortality, due to timely intervention, a successful outcome was achieved in this patient with an atypical presentation of salmonella infection.