Nontyphoidal Salmonella as a Cause of Mediastinal Abscess after Aortic Valve Replacement: A Case Report and Review of Postoperative Salmonella Infections

BACKGROUND: Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a pathogen that causes several human clinical illnesses, most commonly gastroenteritis. Focal infections are rare and are generally reported in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems. Very few studies have reported NTS abscess as a postoperative complication. CASE REPORT: We describe an elderly patient who developed NTS bacteremia and mediastinal abscess after aortic valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS: This report describes an extremely rare occurrence of an NTS mediastinal abscess complicating a surgical procedure. The patient may have acquired the pathogen from a snake kept as a family pet and likely developed bacteremia followed by seeding of the surgically damaged tissues.