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Staphylococcus lugdunensis Endocarditis Presenting with Brain Abscesses and Temporal Vision Deficits
Matthew S Linz1, Diana Finkel2, Eli S Goshorn2
1Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
|April 29, 2024
Summary
Staphylococcus lugdunensis, a skin bacterium, can cause rare but aggressive infectious endocarditis. Molecular testing identified S. lugdunensis in a culture-negative case with severe complications, highlighting its potential virulence.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacterium (CoNS) commonly found on human skin.
- Infectious endocarditis (IE) caused by S. lugdunensis is infrequent but often presents with a severe clinical trajectory.
Observation:
- A case of culture-negative IE presented with severe neurological and cardiac complications.
- The patient experienced brain abscesses, vision deficits, and progressive heart failure.
Findings:
- S. lugdunensis was identified as the causative agent of IE.
- Molecular testing of valvular tissue was crucial for diagnosis in this culture-negative case.
Implications:
- Highlights the potential for S. lugdunensis to cause severe IE, even when initial cultures are negative.
- Emphasizes the importance of advanced diagnostic methods like molecular testing in complex IE cases.
- Suggests a need for increased awareness of S. lugdunensis as a pathogen in aggressive endocarditis.
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