title: Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter lwoffi: a case report and review.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Patras University Hospital, Patras, Greece. istarakis@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Starakis
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blikas
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siagris
authors.forename: Markos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marangos
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karatza
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bassaris
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents