Diagnosis of Salmonella enterica-induced septic arthritis in a healthy child using metagenomic next-generation sequencing: a case report

<i>Salmonella enterica</i>-induced arthritis frequently manifests in children with malignancies, sickle cell disease, immunodeficiency, or undergoing immunosuppressive therapy; however, its incidence in healthy children is rare. Here, we present a case of septic arthritis resulting from <i>S. enterica</i> infection in a previously healthy child, diagnosed utilizing metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). This case underscores the utility of mNGS in the clinical identification of <i>S. enterica</i> arthritis. Particularly in scenarios where the causative pathogen remains unidentified, mNGS emerges as a pivotal adjunctive diagnostic modality for uncommon pathogens.