Salmonella paratyphi B mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta in an HIV-infected patient: a case report.

An HIV-infected 49-year-old man was admitted with polyuria, fever, chills and a dull left lumbar pain. Laboratory tests showed increased C-reactive protein while urine analysis and abdomen ultrasound scan were negative. Blood cultures revealed a Salmonella paratyphi B, identified through MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Targeted antibiotic therapy with intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam was started and a multi-phase contrast-enhanced abdomen CT-scan was performed at 24 hours from admission showing a saccular aneurysm of the abdominal aorta with a 1 cm penetrating aortic ulcer on posterior wall. The patient underwent emergency vascular surgery at 34 hours from admission for debridement and homo-graft placement of sub-renal aorta, and surgical samples were sent for microbiological analysis. Unfortunately, the patient died on post-surgical day 7 after haemorrhagic shock due to laceration of his graft. Salmonella paratyphi infection can be responsible for sepsis in severely immunosuppressed patients with poorly controlled HIV, requiring careful work-up for cardiovascular involvement.