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Polymicrobial Q Fever and enterococcal aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis with aortic root abscess
Dafna Yahav1, Israel Kuznitz2, Sharon Reisfeld3
11Infectious Diseases Unit, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Hospital, Petah-Tikva, Israel.
Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
|May 20, 2015
Summary
Polymicrobial endocarditis is rare. This case highlights Enterococcus faecalis and Coxiella burnetii co-infection, suggesting Q fever testing for endocarditis patients in endemic regions.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Polymicrobial endocarditis is an infrequent clinical presentation.
- Endocarditis requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent severe complications.
Observation:
- A rare case of polymicrobial endocarditis involving both Enterococcus faecalis and Coxiella burnetii is presented.
- A review of prior polymicrobial endocarditis cases associated with Coxiella burnetii was conducted.
Findings:
- The co-occurrence of Enterococcus faecalis and Coxiella burnetii in endocarditis is exceptionally uncommon.
- Previous literature on Coxiella burnetii-associated polymicrobial endocarditis is limited.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider Q fever testing in patients presenting with endocarditis, particularly those residing in areas where Q fever is endemic.
- Early consideration of Q fever can lead to timely diagnosis and appropriate management of polymicrobial endocarditis.
- This case expands the understanding of causative agents in polymicrobial endocarditis.
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