A Spinal TB Mimic: Salmonella Dublin
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By
January 27, 2026
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3 min
A 14-year-old boy, initially suspected of having spinal tuberculosis, was found to have invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella spondylitis after culture and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of surgically excised tissue. Living in a tuberculosis-endemic area, the patient presented with fever, cough, lumbar pain, and significant weight loss. Despite empirical treatment for tuberculosis, there was no improvement, prompting surgical intervention that led to the accurate diagnosis and targeted therapy, resulting in a full recovery. The case highlights the challenges of diagnosing similar infections in high-prevalence areas.
1. Patient, a 14-year-old male, presented with symptoms resembling tuberculosis. 2. Initial treatment for suspected spinal tuberculosis was ineffective. 3. mNGS identified Salmonella Dublin after surgical intervention. 4. Imaging showed severe vertebral lesions and pulmonary nodules. 5. Targeted therapy led to rapid improvement and resolution of symptoms.
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