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Nocardial endocarditis of an aortic valve prosthesis
British Heart Journal
|April 1, 1987
Summary
Nocardia asteroides caused prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis. Successful treatment involved amikacin and imipenem, leading to patient survival and valve replacement, a first for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication following cardiac valve replacement surgery.
- Nocardia asteroides is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe infections, including endocarditis.
Observation:
- A patient developed endocarditis on a prosthetic aortic valve.
- The causative agent was identified as Nocardia asteroides.
Findings:
- The patient received a combination of intravenous amikacin and imipenem.
- Surgical replacement of the prosthetic valve was performed under the antibiotic regimen.
- This case represents the first reported instance of survival in prosthetic valve nocardiosis.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for Nocardia asteroides to infect prosthetic cardiac valves.
- Effective management may involve a combination of prolonged antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention.
- Successful outcomes are possible even in severe cases of prosthetic valve nocardiosis.