Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection as a Risk Factor for Infective Endocarditis

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Infective endocarditis (IE) presents significant morbidity and mortality.
• Established risk factors for IE vary by bacterial type.
• Emerging evidence suggests coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may contribute to coagulopathy and systemic inflammation.

Observation:

• A case of Streptococcus mitis IE is presented.
• The patient had no identified predisposing factors for IE prior to this event.
• The patient's only recent medical history was a diagnosis of COVID-19 one month prior.

Findings:

• This case suggests a potential association between recent COVID-19 infection and the development of Streptococcus mitis IE.
• The absence of other risk factors underscores the potential role of COVID-19 as a predisposing factor.

Implications:

• Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms by which COVID-19 may predispose individuals to infective endocarditis.
• Clinicians should consider IE in patients presenting with relevant symptoms following COVID-19 infection, even in the absence of traditional risk factors.
• This finding contributes to understanding the spectrum of post-COVID-19 complications.