Related Experiment Videos
Infective endocarditis of an interventricular patch caused by Acinetobacter haemolyticus
E Castellanos Martínez1, M Telenti Asensio, V M Rodríguez Blanco
1Dept. of Cardiology, Hospital Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Infection
|July 1, 1995
Summary
This case report details a rare instance of infective endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter haemolyticus in a patient with a history of cardiovascular surgery. The patient successfully responded to antibiotic treatment, suggesting surgery may not always be necessary for this specific infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection of the heart's inner lining or valves.
- Acinetobacter species are uncommon causes of IE, with Acinetobacter haemolyticus being particularly rare.
Observation:
- A 21-year-old male with Fallot's tetralogy and a history of cardiovascular surgery developed IE affecting an interventricular patch.
- The causative agent was identified as Acinetobacter haemolyticus.
Findings:
- The patient received a 6-week course of imipenem and a 4-week course of gentamicin.
- A favorable clinical response was achieved with antibiotic therapy alone, avoiding surgical intervention.
Implications:
- This is the first reported case of infective endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter haemolyticus.
- Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by A. haemolyticus may not invariably require surgical treatment, similar to A. lwoffi infections.