Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 30, 2026

Experimental Endocarditis Model of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Rat
07:46

Experimental Endocarditis Model of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Rat

Published on: June 4, 2012

[Infective endocarditis due to high level aminoglycoside resistant Enterococcus faecalis and methicillin resistant

Nihal Pişkin1, Deniz Akduman, Hande Aydemir

  • 1Zonguldak Karaelmas Universitesi Tip Fakültesi, infeksiyon Hastaliklari ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Zonguldak. nihal_piskin@yahoo.com

Mikrobiyoloji Bulteni
|October 1, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Infective endocarditis can mimic rheumatologic conditions. This case highlights a challenging infection with resistant bacteria, successfully treated with ampicillin and vancomycin, emphasizing its role in complex endocarditis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Rheumatology

Background:

  • Infective endocarditis (IE) presents diverse clinical manifestations, including rheumatologic symptoms.
  • High-level aminoglycoside-resistant enterococci (HLARE) pose significant therapeutic challenges in IE management.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with leukocytoclastic vasculitis and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, initially treated with steroids and plasmapheresis.
  • Transthoracic echocardiography revealed mitral valve vegetation, leading to a diagnosis of infective endocarditis.

Findings:

  • The patient had a dual infection: HLARE and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CNS).
  • Treatment with vancomycin and high-dose ampicillin resulted in clinical improvement, resolution of renal dysfunction, and vegetation reduction.
  • Despite initial improvement, new vegetation and severe mitral insufficiency necessitated valve replacement surgery.

Implications:

  • IE should be considered in patients with unexplained vasculitis and glomerulonephritis.
  • Ampicillin in combination with vancomycin demonstrated efficacy against HLARE IE, offering a potential treatment option.
  • Further documentation of treatment outcomes for HLARE IE is crucial for optimizing therapeutic strategies.

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...
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction01:23

Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction

Rheumatic heart disease or RHD is a chronic condition that results from rheumatic fever, causing permanent damage to the heart valves.Etiology and Risk FactorsIt primarily arises from rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can develop after untreated or inadequately treated group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis. Streptococcus spreads through direct contact with oral or respiratory secretions. While the bacteria are the causative agents, factors like malnutrition, overcrowding, poor...
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...
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...