ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most common complication of gastrointestinal surgery. The most common endogenous organisms encountered are the enteric pathogens. METHODS: We report a rare case of S. enterica var. Weltevreden as a cause of SSI after cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration. Pertinent literature is reviewed. RESULTS: The infection was due to bile spillage and contamination during surgery. The organism was found to be sensitive only to imipenem, and the patient recovered following intravenous treatment with that carbapenem. CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates the fact that cholecystectomy with bile spillage is a definite risk factor for SSI. Although controversial, isolation of the pathogen from the bile and the surgical site must be made to allow this rare pathogen to be identified. Appropriate antibiotic could then be directed against the pathogen.
