AbstractNon‐endemicSalmonellabacteremia tends to occur in patients with chronic disease. We reviewed all cases ofSalmonellainfection documented in adults at Bellevue Hospital during the years 1975–1982. Unexpectedly, the most frequent underlying disease found among bacteremic patients was systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with SLE accounted for 6 of 30Salmonellabacteremias as compared with 13 of 2,388 non‐Salmonellagram‐negative bacteremias.Salmonellawas the single most frequent gram‐negative isolate from the blood of SLE patients. All lupus patients withSalmonellainfection were bacteremic. In contrast, isolates from blood represented only 23 of allSalmonellainfections documented in the non‐lupus population. Presentation was characterized by fever (>103°F) and abdominal pain. Four of the 6 patients were hypocomplementemic. All were receiving immunosuppressive therapy. We conclude that SLE patients in a municipal hospital setting are at increased risk forSalmonellasepsis. This should be considered when empiric antibiotic therapy
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