title: Actinomyces viscosus endocarditis requiring aortic valve replacement.
abstract: We report a case of primary Actinomyces viscosus endocarditis, an unusual manifestation of actinomycosis, in a 43-year-old farmer with an indolent febrile illness. As has occurred in previous cases, diagnosis was delayed in part because blood isolates were misidentified. Months later when she required aortic valve and root replacement, histologic exam of the diseased valve revealed branching filamentous organisms and the original blood isolates were retrospectively confirmed to be Actinomyces viscosus.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, BMR Bldg, Room C6833, Mailcode H036, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033 USA. kjulian@psu.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Julian
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Flesco
authors.forename: Loren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Leslie J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Parent
mesh_terms: D016924:Actinomyces viscosus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans