title: Infective endocarditis due to Neisseria sicca and associated with intravenous drug abuse.
abstract: Intravenous drug abusers are subject to infective endocarditis from unusual pathogens, including the saprophytic species of Neisseria, sometimes transmitted by needles contaminated with oral secretions. We have recently encountered such a case, in which a 37-year-old man with vegetations on the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve had blood cultures positive for N sicca. A history of intravenous drug abuse using needles contaminated with oral secretions should alert clinicians to the possibility of infective endocarditis due to saprophytic Neisseria species.
authors.affiliation: St. Mary's Hospital, Richmond, VA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pizzani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McGroarty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009343:Neisseria / Q000145:classification*; D016870:Neisseriaceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*