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Infective endocarditis caused by Finegoldia magna following aortic dissection repair: a case report and data
Khetam Hussein1, Ziv Savin2, Liran Shani2
1Infectious Disease Unit, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
Background:
Finegoldia magna (F. magna) is a rare pathogen causing infective endocarditis (IE). Only 7 cases are documented in the literature.
Case Report:
We report a case of infective endocarditis in a 45-year-old male due to F. magna 2 months after a Bentall procedure. He presented with fever, dyspnea, and chest pain. Aerobic and anaerobic blood samples were drawn before empirical antibiotic treatment was initiated. A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) demonstrated several findings involving the prosthetic valve, including a vegetation. The patient underwent a second aortic repair procedure. Tissue cultures obtained from 2 sources in the infected area during the operation were positive for F. magna. The antibiotic regimen was changed in accordance with susceptibility testing to piperacillin/tazobactam. Two weeks after the operation, the patient was released with a recommendation for antibiotic treatment for 8 weeks.
Conclusions:
We report this case because F. magna in a rare pathogen causing endocarditis. This was a case of prosthetic valve F. magna IE in which the definitive diagnosis was based on tissue cultures following sterile blood cultures. Data evaluation of all F. magna IE reported cases illustrated that tissue cultures were the predominant microbiologic diagnostic tool used.
Insights
Finegoldia magna (F. magna) is a rare cause of infective endocarditis (IE). Tissue cultures, not blood cultures, were key for diagnosing this prosthetic valve IE case.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Finegoldia magna (F. magna) is an infrequent pathogen implicated in infective endocarditis (IE).
- Literature documents only seven previously reported cases of F. magna IE.
Observation:
- A 45-year-old male developed F. magna IE two months post-Bentall procedure.
- Clinical presentation included fever, dyspnea, and chest pain.
- Transesophageal echocardiogram revealed prosthetic valve findings, including a vegetation.
Findings:
- Blood cultures were initially sterile, complicating diagnosis.
- Tissue cultures from the infected area during reoperation were positive for F. magna.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing guided treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of F. magna IE, particularly prosthetic valve involvement.
- Tissue cultures are crucial for definitive microbiologic diagnosis when blood cultures are negative.
- Prompt diagnosis and targeted antibiotic therapy are essential for managing rare IE pathogens.
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