Superinfection of an Amoebic Abscess by Salmonella enteritidis

Hepatic abscess can be a difficult diagnosis in the evaluation of a fever of unknown origin. Recently an unusual example of superinfection of an amoebic abscess by Salmonella enteritidis was admitted to this hospital. This existence of concurrent infection by two such unusual and unrelated organisms provides another example of the enigma of Salmonella infections in general and demonstrates the ability of this organism to appear unexpectedly in areas of decreased host resistance in an otherwise healthy individual.

Patient Summary  The patient was a 20-year-old Negro man, admitted to the medical service, with fever of three weeks' duration.Three weeks prior to admission to Barnes Hospital, he attempted to prevent a friend from falling down some stairs by leaning over a bannister and taking hold of his leg. The bannister pressed against the epigastrium and right upper quadrant of the patient's body, and for several moments he sustained the full