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Clostridium perfringens Infective Endocarditis: Revisiting a Forgotten Pathogen
Jake Rubin1, Scott Eisenberg2, Matthew Gold3
1Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Background:
Clostridium perfringens is a rare cause of infective endocarditis (IE), with only a limited number of cases reported in the literature.
Case Summary:
A 57-year-old man with complex congenital heart disease, including a surgically repaired double-outlet right ventricle and prior pulmonic valve replacement, presented with recurrent fevers and Cperfringens bacteremia. Although transthoracic echocardiography revealed no acute disease, cardiac computed tomography identified a vegetation adherent to the ventricular septal defect patch, an atypical and previously unreported site for this organism. The patient underwent successful treatment with prolonged intravenous penicillin without surgical intervention.
Discussion:
Standard echocardiography is limited in the detection of vegetations in repaired congenital heart disease, underscoring the importance of advanced multimodality imaging.
Take-Home Messages:
Based on computed tomography-supported findings of IE, the patient underwent successful treatment with prolonged intravenous penicillin without surgical intervention. This case adds to the limited literature on Cperfringens as a rare cause of IE and highlights the importance of individualized, multidisciplinary management in complex congenital heart disease.
Insights
Clostridium perfringens is a rare cause of infective endocarditis (IE). Advanced imaging like cardiac CT is crucial for detecting vegetations in complex congenital heart disease, guiding successful non-surgical treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Clostridium perfringens is an uncommon pathogen causing infective endocarditis (IE).
- Limited case reports exist for IE caused by this bacterium.
- Complex congenital heart disease (CHD) presents unique challenges in IE management.
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Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
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Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management
Pericarditis I: Introduction
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