title: Infective endocarditis and occult splenic abscess caused by Brucella melitensis infection: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: This report describes a patient with prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis caused by Brucella melitensis infection with an initial relapse after apparent recovery due to associated occult splenic abscess. In spite of a prolonged period of recovery (6 months) achieved with splenectomy and antibrucella antimicrobial therapy, a second relapse occurred and cure was achieved after replacement of the infected prosthetic valve and prolonged courses of antibrucella antimicrobial therapy. There is controversy on the optimal therapy of such cases, but this report suggests that successful management requires a combination of medical and early surgical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Radiology, Princess Basma Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saadeh
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Abu-Farsakh
authors.forename: H Z
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Omari
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D017347:Brucella melitensis; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012008:Recurrence; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy