Salmonella typhi as cause of neonatal sepsis: case report and literature review

Salmonella typhi is a rare cause of neonatal sepsis and can present with life threating complications, thus leading to increase in neonatal mortality and morbidity. The clinical features of neonatal Salmonella typhi infection are not different to neonatal sepsis caused by other gram-negative organism in this age group. The mode of transmission of neonatal Salmonella typhi is still not known and has been postulated to be both vertical and horizontal. The diagnosis of Salmonella typhi is made by growth of the organism in blood culture as Serum Widal test is not helpful in diagnosis. The management includes supportive care and intravenous antibiotics. We report two neonates who were admitted in our neonatal intensive care unit for neonatal sepsis and were diagnosed of having Salmonella typhi sepsis.