Severe aortic regurgitation due to Neisseria mucosa endocarditis

A rare occurrence of Neisseria mucosa endocarditis on a native aortic valve not known to be diseased is reported. Despite vigorous antibiotic therapy, severe aortic regurgitation developed necessitating aortic valve replacement. At operation, the right coronary cusp was retracted with two small nodules attached to its edge and the non-coronary cusp was perforated. Neisseria mucosa endocarditis is very rare, and involves abnormal mitral or prosthetic valves predominantly. Infection of a native aortic valve, with no known history of disease, is exceptional.