Related Experiment Videos
Aortic endocarditis caused by gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis
M L Fernández-Guerrero1, C Barros, J L Rodriguez Tudela
1Division of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
A case is reported of a patient who developed aortic endocarditis after protracted hospitalization during which time the patient received multiple courses of aminoglycoside and cephalosporin therapy. The infecting organism, an Enterococcus faecalis strain, was resistant to gentamicin and to the combination of ampicillin with gentamicin. Valve replacement was performed after four weeks of therapy with ampicillin, and enterococci were isolated from cardiac vegetations. Valve replacement may be necessary to achieve cure of endocarditis due to enterococci highly resistant to gentamicin.
Insights
A patient developed aortic endocarditis caused by gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis after prolonged hospitalization and antibiotic treatment. Surgical valve replacement was ultimately required for successful treatment of this resistant infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Protracted hospitalization increases risk of healthcare-associated infections.
- Aminoglycoside and cephalosporin therapies are common in hospitalized patients.
- Enterococcus faecalis can cause severe infections like endocarditis.