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Cat Scratch Endocarditis
Jacopo De Cristofaro1, Stefania Sacchi1, Luca Baldetti1
1Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, San Raffaele University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Insights
Subacute Bartonella henselae infection caused blood culture-negative endocarditis, leading to severe cerebral ischemia from septic emboli. Diagnosis relied on serology, highlighting a rare presentation of cat scratch disease.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Infective endocarditis typically presents with fever and heart murmurs.
- Blood cultures are crucial for diagnosing infective endocarditis.
- Cerebral ischemia can be a complication of infective endocarditis.
Observation:
- A case of blood culture-negative infective endocarditis on a native valve was observed.
- The patient's primary symptoms were extensive cerebral ischemia.
- Multiple systemic septic cardioembolic events were identified as the cause of ischemia.
Findings:
- The infective endocarditis was attributed to subacute Bartonella henselae infection.
- The presumed transmission route was cat scratch.
- Positive serologic findings confirmed Bartonella henselae infection.
Implications:
- This case highlights a rare presentation of Bartonella henselae infection.
- It underscores the importance of considering non-bacterial causes of infective endocarditis.
- Neurological complications can be the sole manifestation of this condition.
Abstract:
We reported a case of blood culture-negative infective endocarditis on a native valve, where the clinical presentation was exclusively related to extensive cerebral ischemia secondary to multiple systemic septic cardioembolic events. The cause was ascribed to subacute Bartonella henselae infection, presumably transmitted by cat scratch, documented by positive serologic findings.
Related Concept Videos
Endocarditis I: Introduction
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Endocarditis III: Medical Management
Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management
Myocarditis I: Introduction
Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

