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Streptococcus alactolyticus Infective Endocarditis and Stroke in a Healthy Young Female
Swarna Chakrabarty1, Tony K Hiran1, Arjun Sharma1
1Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
JACC. Case Reports
|May 20, 2024
Summary
Systemic infection with Streptococcus alactolyticus is rare. This case highlights infective endocarditis caused by S alactolyticus, leading to both hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke in a young woman.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
Background:
- The Streptococcus bovis/Streptococcus equinus complex encompasses various subspecies, including Streptococcus alactolyticus.
- Systemic infections attributed to Streptococcus alactolyticus in humans are infrequently documented in medical literature.
Observation:
- A case study involving a previously healthy 31-year-old female patient.
- The patient presented with symptoms indicative of a serious systemic infection.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with infective endocarditis, an infection of the heart's inner lining.
- Complications included both hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, indicating severe neurological involvement.
- Infective endocarditis was confirmed to be caused by Streptococcus alactolyticus.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for Streptococcus alactolyticus to cause severe systemic infections, including infective endocarditis.
- The occurrence of stroke as a complication highlights the critical need for early diagnosis and treatment of S alactolyticus infections.
- Further research into the pathogenicity and clinical spectrum of Streptococcus alactolyticus is warranted.
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