Infectious endocarditis after fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy. With a literature review

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Infectious endocarditis is a serious condition often linked to bacteremia from medical procedures.
• Gastrointestinal procedures are known to cause bacteremia, but their association with infectious endocarditis is infrequent.
• Previous literature reports limited confirmed cases of endocarditis following gastrointestinal interventions.

Observation:

• A new case of infectious endocarditis is presented.
• The causative agent identified was Streptococcus sanguis type II.
• The predisposing event was a fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy procedure.

Findings:

• This case adds to the scarce evidence linking gastrointestinal procedures to infectious endocarditis.
• Streptococcus sanguis type II was confirmed as the pathogen responsible for the endocarditis.
• The temporal association suggests fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy as a potential trigger for bacteremia leading to endocarditis.

Implications:

• Highlights the importance of considering infectious endocarditis in patients with bacteremia after gastrointestinal procedures.
• Suggests a need for further research into the risk factors and prevention strategies for endocarditis following such procedures.
• Underscores the diagnostic challenge in attributing endocarditis to specific gastrointestinal interventions.