title: Diagnosis of E. coli tricuspid valve endocarditis: a case report.
abstract: Escherichia coli is a rare cause of bacterial endocarditis. We report a case of an elderly man with cirrhosis who developed bacterial endocarditis due to E.coli. We review the literature that summarizes a total of 41 cases, with a predominance of elderly women, diabetics, and patients with urinary tract infections and prosthetic heart valves. E.coli bacteremia may be mistakenly attributed to a more benign source such as urosepsis and overlooked as an indication of endocarditis. A delay in diagnosis may lead to higher mortality as the opportunity for early valve replacement in appropriate cases and more prolonged courses of antibiotics may not be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA. tutuhiko0405@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Hozuka
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akita
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Eron
mesh_terms: D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000382:microbiology*