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[Native-valve endocarditis produced by Lactobacillus casei sub. rhamnosus refractory to antimicrobial therapy]
A Monterisi1, A A Dain, M C Suárez de Basnec
1Laboratorio de Microbiologia, Hospital Nacional de Clínicas, Córdoba, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Medicina
|January 1, 1996
Summary
Lactobacillus endocarditis is a rare but serious infection. Early surgical intervention may be crucial for successful treatment, especially with resistant strains.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Lactobacillus endocarditis is an exceptionally rare clinical condition, with limited documented cases.
- Lactobacillus species are typically considered commensal organisms, rarely causing severe infections like endocarditis.
Observation:
- A case of endocarditis caused by a vancomycin-resistant Lactobacillus casei sub. rhamnosus strain is presented.
- The patient, a 29-year-old male with mitral valve prolapse, showed a poor response to standard antimicrobial therapy (penicillin and gentamicin).
Findings:
- Surgical valve replacement was necessary due to the limited efficacy of medical management.
- The patient achieved a successful clinical outcome with no recurrence of infection for two years post-surgery.
Implications:
- Accurate identification of Lactobacillus species in blood cultures is critical for appropriate treatment of endocarditis.
- Early consideration of surgical valve replacement is recommended for patients diagnosed with Lactobacillus endocarditis, particularly in cases involving resistant strains.