Q fever endocarditis.
Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, produces a variety of clinical syndromes. The most frequent and serious chronic presentation is endocarditis, which presents unspecifically as a blood-culture negative endocarditis. It occurs almost exclusively in patients who have pre-existing valvular disease or who are immunocompromised. Without prompt recognition and appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the course of Q fever endocarditis is severe and potentially fatal. The epidemiology, signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, diagnosis and treatment of Q fever endocarditis are presented in our review.
Mazokopakis
Elias E
EE
Department of Internal Medicine, Naval Hospital of Crete, Crete, Greece. emazokopakis@yahoo.gr
Karefilakis
Christos M
CM
Starakis
Ioannis K
IK
D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology