Prosthetic Aortic Valve Endocarditis Caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex: A Case Report

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a rare condition caused by infection of prosthetic heart valves (PHV) or repaired native valves. Onset from the time of implantation can be used to classify it into early and later categories. Gram-positive cocci are the predominant cause of early PVE (less than one year after implantation), though other less common organisms can also cause PVE. We report a case of early prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by gram-negative Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC). This multidrug-resistant organism is an exceedingly rare cause of PVE. Only a handful of cases have been reported in medical literature. Its inherent resistance to the commonly used treatment modalities presents a unique challenge. Often, surgical intervention and removal of the prosthesis are required to ensure resolution. We present a case of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis caused by Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) that showed an excellent response to combination antibiotics.