Anticipating the management of Streptococcus agalactiae infective endocarditis

A patient who presented after falling out of bed had signs of right-sided stroke, which, after imaging, was suspicious for embolism with cardiac origin. Further investigation revealed a large aortic valve vegetation with mild aortic insufficiency, and the patient eventually developed heart failure requiring surgical intervention. Infective endocarditis is slowly becoming more prevalent, and clinicians should have a high index of suspicion when patients present with common complications of this disease, such as valvular dysfunction, heart failure, or stroke. Early diagnosis has been shown to reduce time to appropriate antibiotic treatment and definitive care, which can lead to better outcomes.