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Relapse of Enterococcus hirae prosthetic valve endocarditis.
J P Talarmin1, S Pineau, A Guillouzouic
1CHU de Nantes, Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, 44093 Nantes Cedex 1, France.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|January 21, 2011
Summary
A rare gram-positive bacterium, Enterococcus hirae, caused a prosthetic valve endocarditis relapse 6 months after the first episode. Genomic analysis confirmed the clonal relationship between the initial and recurrent infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Genomics
Background:
- Enterococcus hirae is a gram-positive bacterium infrequently identified in clinical settings.
- Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious infection requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Observation:
- This report details a rare case of recurrent PVE caused by Enterococcus hirae.
- The relapse occurred 6 months following the initial PVE episode.
Findings:
- Genomic analysis provided definitive proof of a clonal relationship between the initial and relapsed E. hirae infections.
- This finding highlights the potential for persistent or relapsing infections with this uncommon pathogen.
Implications:
- Understanding the genomic relatedness of recurrent pathogens is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
- This case underscores the importance of considering Enterococcus hirae in recurrent or persistent PVE, even if initially rare.
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