Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling
08:25

Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling

Published on: April 7, 2015

Propionibacterium endocarditis: a case series from the International Collaboration on Endocarditis Merged Database

Tahaniyat Lalani1, Anna K Person, Susan S Hedayati

  • 1Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, 2400 Pratt Street, Cube 7545, Durham, NC 27710 USA. lalan002@mc.duke.edu

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|September 14, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Propionibacterium endocarditis, a serious infection, often affects males with prosthetic valves. Treatment requires combined medical and surgical approaches, with significant complications and mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Propionibacterium species are implicated in severe systemic infections, including infective endocarditis.
  • Understanding the clinical spectrum of Propionibacterium endocarditis is crucial for timely diagnosis and management.

Observation:

  • A study analyzed 15 patients with Propionibacterium endocarditis from the International Collaboration on Endocarditis Merged Database (ICE-MD) and Prospective Cohort Study (ICE-PCS).
  • The majority of patients were male (11/15), with a mean age of 52 years.
  • Prosthetic valve endocarditis was prevalent (13/15), alongside a history of congenital heart disease in 3 patients.

Findings:

  • Common clinical manifestations included valvular vegetations (9 patients), cardiac abscesses (3 patients), congestive heart failure (2 patients), and central nervous system emboli (2 patients).
  • Treatment typically involved beta-lactam antibiotics for 4-6 weeks, with 10 patients undergoing valve replacement surgery.
  • Mortality was observed in 2 patients.

Implications:

  • Risk factors for Propionibacterium endocarditis include male gender, prosthetic valves, and congenital heart disease.
  • The disease course is marked by complications like valvular dehiscence, cardiac abscesses, and heart failure.
  • Effective treatment often necessitates a multimodal approach combining antibiotics and surgical intervention.

Related Concept Videos

Endocarditis I: Introduction01:25

Endocarditis I: Introduction

Introduction:Endocarditis is the infection of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart and its valves. When the heart muscle is involved, the condition is termed myocarditis, while an infection of the outer lining is called pericarditis. Infective endocarditis (IE) primarily affects the endocardium, where pathogens adhere to the valves or lining, forming vegetation that can lead to severe complications. Infective endocarditis occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from other body...
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis01:25

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...
Endocarditis III: Medical Management01:18

Endocarditis III: Medical Management

Infective endocarditis management involves a multifaceted approach encompassing infection prevention, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological therapy, and surgical management.Infection Prevention:Hand Hygiene: Thorough handwashing is crucial to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene should be performed regularly, especially before and after using the restroom.Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential. It includes brushing teeth immediately after waking up and before bed, flossing...
Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management01:29

Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a chronic infection of the heart's endocardium, primarily affecting the heart valves. A detailed nursing assessment for a patient with IE involves collecting subjective and objective data to ensure an accurate diagnosis and timely intervention.Subjective DataThe nurse gathers information about the patient's symptoms and complaints during the subjective assessment. Patients with infective endocarditis often report non-specific symptoms that can mimic other...
Pericarditis I: Introduction01:22

Pericarditis I: Introduction

Pericarditis is defined as the inflammation of the pericardium, the thin, sac-like membrane surrounding the heart. This condition can cause significant chest pain and other symptoms, often necessitating medical intervention. The pericardium has two layers: the inner visceral layer and the outer parietal layer, separated by a small amount of fluid that reduces friction during heartbeats.Types of PericarditisPericarditis can be classified into several types based on the duration and nature of the...
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...