Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device-Related Infective Endocarditis Caused by Bacillus cereus: A Case Report

Background: Globalization, increased mobility, changes in dietary habits, and a growing number of immunocompromised patients have heightened exposure to rare or opportunistic pathogens. Here, we present a case of cardiac implantable electronic device-related infective endocarditis (CIED-IE) caused by Bacillus cereus bacteremia originating in the gastrointestinal tract. Case presentation: A 66-year-old female, who had a cardiac resynchronization pacemaker (CRT-P) implanted in 2017 due to second-degree atrioventricular block and left bundle branch block, had undergone device replacement due to battery depletion 4 months earlier and was scheduled for transvenous lead extraction (TLE) due to generator pocket infection. During the TLE procedure, transoesophageal echocardiography revealed vegetations on the leads and in the right atrium. Standard empirical therapy covering methicillin-resistant Staphylococci and Gram-negative bacteria was administered, including oritavancin and gentamicin. Surprisingly, intraoperative samples cultured B. cereus, a Gram-positive, spore-forming rod that usually causes food poisoning through contamination of rice and other starchy foods. B. cereus is generally resistant to β-lactam antibiotics except for carbapenems but is susceptible to glycopeptides. The oritavancin treatment was extended to four fractionated doses (1200, 800, 800, and 800 mg) administered at 7-day intervals. To eradicate bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, oral vancomycin (125 mg 4 times a day) was added. After 4 weeks of effective antibiotic therapy, a CRT-P with a left bundle branch area pacing lead was reimplanted on the right subclavian area, with no recurrence of infection during the 3-month follow-up. Clinical discussion: In the patient, a diet high in rice and improper storage of rice dishes, together with habitual constipation, were identified as risk factors for the development of invasive Bacillus cereus infection. However, the long half-life lipoglycopeptide antibiotic, oritavancin, administered weekly, proved effective in treating CIED-IE. Conclusions: Infection with rare or opportunistic microorganisms may require extended microbiological diagnostics and non-standard antibiotic therapy; therefore, the medical history should consider risk factors for such infections.