JAMA Netw Open

Appendectomy linked to higher Salmonella risk in children

January 27, 2026

In a nationwide population-based cohort study from Taiwan, children who underwent appendectomy had a significantly higher risk of subsequent nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection compared with matched peers without appendectomy. Among more than 93,000 children followed over two decades, appendectomy was associated with a 58% increased risk of NTS infection (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.13), with the greatest risk seen in children younger than 5 years.

Clinical takeaway: After pediatric appendectomy—especially in younger children—clinicians may consider counseling families on food safety and maintaining a lower threshold for evaluating possible Salmonella infection.

Source:

Guo JY, et al. (2026, January 23). JAMA Netw Open. Appendectomy and Risk of Nontyphoidal Salmonella Infection in Children. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41575746/