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Published on: September 20, 2018
A case of Bartonella henselae native valve endocarditis presenting with crescentic glomerulonephritis
Roshni Patel1, Kansas Koran1, Mark Call1
1Prisma Health Infectious Disease Specialists, 890 West Faris Road, Suite 520, Greenville, SC 29605, USA.
Insights
Bartonella henselae endocarditis is difficult to diagnose, often presenting as renal failure. Next-generation sequencing offers a faster method for identifying this destructive infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Bartonella endocarditis diagnosis is challenging, relying on multiple tests and symptom assessment.
- Bartonella henselae, a cause of endocarditis, is difficult to culture, leading to diagnostic delays.
Observation:
- A case of Bartonella henselae native mitral valve endocarditis presented with volume overload and renal failure.
- The organism's slow growth in culture complicates early identification.
Findings:
- The destructive nature of Bartonella henselae endocarditis necessitates rapid identification.
- Next-generation sequencing (NGS) presents a potential solution for timely diagnosis.
Implications:
- Increased clinician awareness of Bartonella henselae endocarditis is crucial for cases with acute renal failure and culture-negative vegetations.
- NGS may improve diagnostic speed and patient outcomes for Bartonella endocarditis.
Abstract:
Bartonella endocarditis is often an elusive diagnosis, usually derived from evaluating multiple laboratory tests and assessment of presenting symptoms. Herein we describe a case of Bartonella henselae native mitral valve endocarditis with an initial presentation of volume overload and renal failure. The Bartonella organism is tedious to isolate from culture medium, causing most diagnoses to be delayed. Due to the destructive nature of B. henselae endocarditis, the need for rapid identification remains prudent. This therefore creates an opportunity for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) to be used. We further summarize the varied presentations that may be associated with B. henselae endocarditis, and hope that this will heighten the clinicians' awareness of this entity when presented with acute onset renal failure and culture negative vegetations.
Related Concept Videos
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