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Fatal bioprosthetic aortic valve endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium valvarum

Walter Geissdörfer1, René Tandler, Christian Schlundt

  • 1Institute of Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. walter.geissdoerfer@mikrobio.med.uni-erlangen.de

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|May 4, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A rare bacterium, Cardiobacterium valvarum, caused fatal aortic valve endocarditis in a German patient. This case highlights prosthetic valve infection without a dental source, a unique presentation for this pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Infective endocarditis is a serious infection of the heart valves.
  • Cardiobacterium valvarum is a rare bacterium that can cause infections.

Observation:

  • A 71-year-old man presented with fatal aortic valve endocarditis.
  • The causative agent was identified as Cardiobacterium valvarum through blood culture.
  • Phenotypic characterization was performed using the API NH system.

Findings:

  • This is the first reported case of infective endocarditis caused by Cardiobacterium valvarum in Germany.
  • It is also the first documented case worldwide involving a prosthetic valve.
  • The infection lacked an obvious dental focus, which is atypical for such cases.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known clinical spectrum of Cardiobacterium valvarum infections.
  • It underscores the importance of considering rare pathogens in prosthetic valve endocarditis.
  • Further research may be needed to understand the pathogenesis and risk factors for C. valvarum endocarditis.

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