title: Abiotrophia defectiva endocarditis.
abstract: A previously healthy 27-year-old Jamaican man presented to the University Hospital of the West Indies with recurrent joint pain, remitting and relapsing fever, and shortness of breath. He was subsequently found to have Abiotrophia defectiva endocarditis. This was the first time this organism had been isolated at our institution. Despite culture directed antibiotics, his clinical course was quite severe with mitral regurgitation and congestive cardiac failure requiring mitral valve replacement. He recovered well postoperatively and is currently being followed at our outpatient cardiology clinic. This report highlights the severe presentation and often poor outcome associated with A. defectiva endocarditis and stresses that the outcome may be improved by early and appropriate surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Jodian Amor
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3964-0032
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pinkney
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The Eastern Regional Health Authority, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Rajeev Peeyush
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Nagassar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Karen Judith
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Roye-Green
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D058835:Abiotrophia; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents