Campylobacter fetus as cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis

Tex Heart Inst J. 2011;38(5):584-7.

Abstract

A 65-year-old woman who had previously undergone aortic root replacement with a bioprosthetic valve (Bentall operation) in treatment of annuloaortic ectasia became feverish after developing dental caries and was admitted to our hospital. Transesophageal echocardiography showed an 18 × 4-mm vegetation on her prosthetic valve. Campylobacter fetus was isolated on blood cultures, and she was diagnosed with infectious endocarditis. Aggressive combined antibiotic treatment was effective for her recovery. C. fetus infection is a rarely reported cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Keywords: Aortic valve; Campylobacter fetus; Campylobacter infections/complications/epidemiology; Vibrio/drug effects; anti-bacterial agents/therapeutic use; endocarditis, bacterial/drug therapy/etiology; heart valve prosthesis/adverse effects.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aortic Valve / surgery*
  • Bioprosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Campylobacter Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Campylobacter Infections / drug therapy
  • Campylobacter Infections / microbiology*
  • Campylobacter fetus / isolation & purification*
  • Dental Caries / complications
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Food Contamination
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis / adverse effects*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / instrumentation
  • Humans
  • Meat / microbiology
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / diagnostic imaging
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / drug therapy
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / microbiology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents