Epidural abscess due to Salmonella enteritidis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Increased susceptibility to infection has long been observed among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and still represents a chief cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. This is due in part to the severity of infection and to the difficulty of early diagnosis owing to the similarity between SLE flares and infection. Epidural infection is an uncommon condition, and a most rare condition caused by salmonella, which accounts for a broad spectrum of human illnesses from gastroenteritis and typhoid fever to the asymptomatic carrier state. We report the first case of epidural abscess caused by Salmonella enteritidis in a female with SLE with protean manifestations treated by intravenous antibiotics and surgery with full recovery of neurological symptoms, illustrating the importance of performing an early diagnosis and prompt treatment.