[Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis. A case report and review of the literature]

A case of acute aortic valve Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae endocarditis is reported in a 48 year old fisherman with no history of initial erysipelar and requiring emergency aortic valve replacement 48 hours after starting antibiotic therapy with Ampicillin and Gentamicin. The outcome was favourable. In the light of 32 of the 40 previously published cases, the authors discuss the difficulty in identifying the causal organism, the main epidemiological features, the occupational association of these infections, the incidence of primary infections, the involvement of the aortic valve and the more serious nature of the disease compared to non-D streptococcal endocarditis, despite high sensitivity to Penicillin G.