Salmonella Endocarditis: Rare Bacteremia Causing Mural Infective Endocarditis

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology
• Medical Case Reports

Background:

• Current guidelines do not advocate for routine cardiac imaging in patients with gram-negative bacteremia due to the rarity of associated infective endocarditis.
• Nongastrointestinal *Salmonella* infections leading to endocarditis are exceptionally uncommon, particularly in developed nations.

Observation:

• A 60-year-old female presented with *Salmonella* bacteremia.
• She was diagnosed with right atrial mural endocarditis involving an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and an indwelling venous catheter.
• Surgical removal of the vegetation and devices was performed due to embolization risk.

Findings:

• The patient completed a 6-week course of antibiotic therapy.
• Indwelling devices were replaced post-treatment, with no recurrence noted at 8-month follow-up.
• This case demonstrates successful management of a rare *Salmonella* endocarditis in a patient with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Implications:

• Cardiac imaging may be beneficial in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices and atypical bacteremia.
• This case challenges current guidelines regarding cardiac imaging in specific bacteremic populations.
• Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing infective endocarditis in patients with indwelling cardiac devices.