Endocarditis due to Veillonella alcalescens

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• A 60-year-old male presented with a 25-year history of a benign heart murmur.
• The patient experienced six months of unexplained fever and cardiac symptoms.

Observation:

• Fever initially responded to empirical antimicrobial therapy.
• Progressive aortic insufficiency developed, necessitating aortic valve replacement.
• Preoperative blood cultures were negative for microbial growth.

Findings:

• Veillonella alcalescens was successfully isolated in pure culture from the excised aortic valve.
• The patient received two weeks of intravenous cephalothin followed by three months of oral penicillin.
• Post-treatment, the patient showed complete recovery and remained well.

Implications:

• This case highlights Veillonella alcalescens as a potential cause of infective endocarditis and aortic valve disease.
• Accurate identification of rare bacterial pathogens is crucial for effective treatment of cardiac infections.
• Successful management underscores the efficacy of targeted antibiotic therapy for Veillonella endocarditis.