Endocarditis caused by Arcanobacterium haemolyticum.
A 33-year-old, active intravenous drug-abusing male infected with the human immunodeficiency virus developed endocarditis due to Arcanobacterium haemolyticum. Empirical treatment with ampicillin plus gentamicin failed to achieve a marked clinical improvement. When the results of antibiotic susceptibility were available (ampicillin MIC < or = 0.06 mg/l; ampicillin MBC 2 mg/l; MBC:MIC ratio > 32) therapy was changed to vancomycin plus gentamicin. During the following days progressive clinical and radiological improvement was observed. The patient received antibiotics for 30 days and no relapse occurred during a 14-month follow-up. The literature of endocarditis due to this uncommon bacterium is reviewed here.
Alós
J I
JI
Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital de Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.
Barros
C
C
Gómez-Garcés
J L
JL
D000191:Actinomycetaceae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000193:Actinomycetales Infections; D000328:Adult; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005839:Gentamicins; D014640:Vancomycin