Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter lwoffi: a case report and review.
We are reporting a case of recurrent prosthetic-valve endocarditis (PVE) caused by an unusual pathogen. The patient suffered 2 consecutive relapses of Acinetobacter lwoffi bacteremia, although he had completed a full course of treatment with antibiotics to which the microorganism was susceptible. He was finally successfully operated with replacement of the infected aortic valve. Acinetobacter spp are relatively low-grade but potentially virulent pathogens, and endocarditis caused by these species can be fulminant, accompanied by septic complications, and fatal. Although some patients with relapsed PVE may respond to a second course of antibiotics and medical treatment rather than early valve replacement is suggested in A lwoffi PVE, combined antibiotic treatment and early surgical intervention may be considered as the first option in these patients. There are only a few cases of Acinetobacter endocarditis in the literature, and it is the first case reported in Greece to our knowledge.
Starakis
Ioannis
I
Department of Internal Medicine, Patras University Hospital, Patras, Greece. istarakis@yahoo.com
Blikas
Alexandros
A
Siagris
Dimitrios
D
Marangos
Markos
M
Karatza
Chrysoula
C
Bassaris
Harry
H
D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001021:Aortic Valve; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology*; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents