Salmonellosis and mycotic aneurysm of the aorta. A report of 10 cases

We report a 5 year experience of 10 cases of mycotic aneurysms of the aorta caused by salmonella infection. Of the 10 patients, nine were males and one was female in an age range from 60 to 80 years with a mean of 71 years. The major clinical manifestations were fever, abdominal or back pain, pulsatile abdominal mass and leucocytosis. The diagnosis was based on clinical symptoms and signs and positive blood or tissue cultures. The main confirmatory procedure was computed tomography (CT). Two year survival rate was 20%. Five patients died during hospitalisation, without surgery. Three patients died within 2 months of surgery. The other two patients, treated surgically and by intensive antibiotic therapy, survived. Death resulted usually from recurrent infection and graft leakage. Contrary to previous reports, salmonella mycotic aneurysms is still common in this geographical area and the prognosis is poor.