Salmonella Enteritidis breast abscess: An unusual cause of breast abscess in the UK

Abstract

Breast abscess is a common clinical condition mostly caused by Staphylococcus aureus. However, infections due to mixed organisms are observed in non-lactational women, mostly in smokers. Salmonella infection causing breast abscess is extremely rare in developed countries. We report a case of Salmonella enterica subsp enterica (I) serovar Enteritidis breast abscess in a 48-year-old woman, a UK citizen, who had recently travelled abroad. She was treated successfully with a combination of surgery and ciprofloxacin. Unusual causative organisms should be kept in mind in patients with recent travel abroad and pus should be sent for microbiology. Mastitis caused by Salmonella spp can present with a severely indurated area that may take a few weeks to resolve. Complete assessment with biopsy of the indurated area and breast imaging is mandatory to exclude malignancy.