False localization of site of endocarditis by cardiac catheterization with quantitative cultures

The authors present a patient with relapsing Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis in whom cardiac catheterization with quantitative cultures falsely localized the infection to the tricuspid valve, probably because the patient was having intermittent rather than continuous bacteremia. After catheterization the patient developed mitral insufficiency and congestive heart failure. This experience suggests that quantitative cultures during cardiac catheterization may give misleading results and that the procedure may have significant complications.