Man's best friend? Infective endocarditis due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus.
Infective endocarditis caused by zoonotic microorganisms is an uncommon clinical entity. A 55-year-old man was diagnosed with endocarditis due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a commensal bacterium contained in the saliva of dogs, that involved the aortic and tricuspid valves and was complicated by a para-aortic valve abscess and aorta-to-right atrial fistula. The patient was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy and surgical intervention. C canimorsus endocarditis should be considered in patients with culture-negative endocarditis, particularly in immunosuppressed, asplenic or alcoholic individuals who have recently suffered a dog bite or have had close contact with dogs.
Hayani
Omar
O
Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
Higginson
Lyall A J
LA
Toye
Baldwin
B
Burwash
Ian G
IG