title: Brucellosis in patients with heart disease: when should endocarditis be diagnosed?
abstract: Three patients, 2 with congenital valvular heart disease and 1 with a prosthetic aortic valve developed brucellosis. Brucella melitensis was isolated from blood of all 3 patients. The clinical and microbiological features suggested Brucella endocarditis and following successful antibiotic therapy, no surgery was required. The salient diagnostic features are discussed with emphasis on the management and prognosis of patients with Brucella endocarditis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine A, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Flugelman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galun
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ben-Chetrit
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caraco
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubinow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents