Nontyphoidal Salmonella bacteremia as an early infection in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

During a two-year period, two drug addicts and one homosexual patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) developed persistent Salmonella typhimurium or S. enteritidis bacteremia early in the course of their syndrome. A fourth patient, also a male homosexual with recurrent S. typhimurium bacteremia and urinary tract infection, is being closely followed prospectively for the development of AIDS. Nontyphoidal salmonella bacteremia appears to be an emerging problem in AIDS patients and may be the earliest manifestation of a cell-mediated defect.