Aortic pseudoaneurysm & endocarditis caused by Aerococcus viridans: A case report and literature review

Aerococcus viridans is a gram positive microaerophilic lactic acid coccus which is known to cause an infection in lobsters called Gaffkaemia. Consumption of gaffekaemia affected lobsters is considered to be safe if properly cooked even though there hasn't been any research on potential transmission by this route. Though uncommon, A. viridans is capable of causing a virulent endocarditis associated with aortic valve destruction and abscess. There have been 11 worldwide reported cases of infective endocarditis, of which 6 were aortic and only one of them had aortic pseudoaneurysm (APA). We review these cases and also present the case of a 32-year-old young man with no risk factors who presented initially with native valve endocarditis with aerococcus viridans and subsequently with large aortic pseudo-aneurysm.