An isolated case of nosocomial acquisition of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella

Non-typhoidal Salmonella spreads to humans via contact with animals or consumption of contaminated animal products, often causing outbreaks of a self-resolving gastroenteritis. Less commonly, it can lead to bacteremia and invasive disease. Nosocomial, person-to-person, and asymptomatic carrier transmission are uncommon in the United States. Reactivation of latent Salmonella in immunocompromised patients is also a known phenomenon. Here, we report a case of an isolated Salmonella bacteremia that developed in an intubated patient with a prolonged hospital course and no clear outbreak or focus of infection. Non-traditional means of transmission and reactivation of latent Salmonella should be considered in the absence of an outbreak phenomenon, especially in patients with multiple comorbidities and immunocompromise.