Genital Infection Caused by <i>Salmonella enterica</i> Serovar Hvittingfoss: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Nontyphoidal Salmonella serovars predominantly cause gastrointestinal infections. However, other clinical presentations, including urogenital infections, have been reported, although they are rather rare. Case presentation: This case is about a 33-year-old woman diagnosed with Salmonella enterica serovar Hvittingfoss (S. Hvittingfoss) bacteremia and endometritis six days post uterine aspiration in the context of a missed abortion. She had traveled to Indonesia two weeks prior to the positive blood and cervical culture. She never developed gastrointestinal symptoms but was found to carry S. Hvittingfoss in her stool sample. The patient was successfully treated with a seven-day course of iv ciprofloxacin. Conclusions: S. Hvittingfoss is a rare serovar that has caused a few outbreaks of foodborne infections in Asia, the United States, and Australia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Salmonella urogenital infection caused by this serovar. Salmonella as a cause of urogenital infections is rare but not uncommon. Therefore, it should be considered in identifying members of the Enterobacterales among urogenital flora in cases of severe urogenital infections, especially when other cultures remain negative.

Keywords

• <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Hvittingfoss
• endometritis
• bacteremia