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Left-sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in patients without injection drug use

Nancy L Dawson1, Lisa M Brumble, Bobbi S Pritt

  • 1From Division of Hospital Internal Medicine (NLD) and the Division of Infectious Diseases (LMB, SA), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida; the Division of Clinical Microbiology (BSP, JDY), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and the Division of Consultative Medicine (JDE) Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Medicine
|June 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Left-sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in non-injection drug users is rare but serious. Prompt valve surgery and extended antibiotic therapy are crucial for survival and recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Left-sided endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is uncommon in individuals without a history of injection drug use.
  • Identifying predisposing factors and optimal treatment strategies is essential for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical characteristics, predisposing factors, and outcomes of left-sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in non-injection drug users.
  • To review existing literature on this rare but severe infection.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of patient medical records from Mayo Clinic.
  • Inclusion of identified cases and a comprehensive review of English-language medical literature.

Main Results:

  • Four cases of left-sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in non-injection drug users were identified.
  • A history of medical instrumentation emerged as a common predisposing factor.

Conclusions:

  • Left-sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in this population is a rare, severe infection.
  • Surgical intervention (valve replacement) combined with prolonged combination antibiotic therapy offers the best prognosis.

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