Infective endocarditis following cardiac catheterization in infancy. A case report and review

A 4.5-month-old infant with transposition of great vessels and large ventricular septal defect developed acute infective endocarditis following cardiac catheterization. Beta-hemolytic streptococcus was recovered from three blood cultures. The infant survived after 6 weeks intravenous antibiotic therapy. The occurrence of infective endocarditis following cardiac catheterization during infancy is briefly reviewed and discussed. The importance of distinguishing febrile episodes of infancy from infective endocarditis and the use of two-dimensional echocardiography for diagnosis is re-emphasized.