title: Subacute bacterial endocarditis secondary to mastoiditis: a rare complication.
abstract: Mastoiditis can result from untreated otitis media. If unrecognised, it can result in life-threatening complications. We present a 69-year-old woman with a history of left-sided otitis media admitted to intensive care unit following collapse with a decreasing Glasgow Coma Scale. Myringotomy and ventilator insertion revealed pus in the middle ear, which grew Group A Streptococcus. Her fever persisted and blood samples cultured Group A Streptococcus. Echocardiogram confirmed subacute bacterial endocarditis. Subacute bacterial endocarditis is a rare complication of mastoiditis. A literature review detected no previous case reports. A high suspicion of potential complications can prevent morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT, Antrim Area Hospital, Antrim, UK. caroline_smith19@hotmail.co.uk
authors.forename: Caroline Patricia
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Conor
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents