From Volume 52, Issue 2, February 2025 | Pages 134-136
This report describes the case of a patient with Sjögren's syndrome who presented with acute suppurative parotitis. A microbiological test of the purulent discharge obtained from the right parotid duct revealed the condition was secondary to acute
Acute sialadenitis in patients with secondary Sjögren's syndrome is not uncommon1 and is often immediately considered to be bacterial in nature. Although this assumption is well grounded in evidence, given the increased risk of localized blockage of the salivary gland, there remain incidences where, despite antibiotic prescription, the infection persists. We present such a case here. Candida is a common opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients as well as in those with a dry mouth. Candidal abscess of the salivary gland has been reported but its signs and symptoms mimic that of acute bacterial infection; (low grade fever (37.4–37.8°C), painful inflammatory-mediated swelling, and salivary gland duct discharge).1–3 As such, when managing patients with salivary gland infection, alternative causative agents should be considered to ensure antibiotic stewardship and provide optimal care.
A 52-year-old female presented to the dental emergency clinic at Newcastle Dental Hospital complaining of a painful swelling on the right side of her face. The swelling had been present for 1 week and was suspected to be of dental origin by her general medical practitioner. The patient was known to have secondary Sjögren's syndrome, alongside rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis and hypothyroidism.
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