Brucella Endocarditis: A Case Series

Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections present worldwide. It usually presents as a febrile illness but can affect multiple organs of the body. Although cardiac involvement in brucellosis is rare, it is a fatal organ involvement. The endocarditis is the most common cause of death among patients with Brucella infection. The management of complications of infective endocarditis like stroke requires a multispecialty approach. The Brucella being a fastidious organism requires proper culture technique for growth. The serological methods of diagnosis have limited value in areas with high seroprevalence of brucellosis. We present a case series of three patients who had Brucella endocarditis with varied complications and courses of illness. The practice of a prolonged culture of blood for seven days ensured growth on the culture medium. All three patients were managed with medical therapy only, with a favorable outcome in two patients. In this case series, we have highlighted the importance of proper diagnostic methods and early surgical intervention when indicated.