Document details

Escherichia coli's endocarditis in a prosthetic aortic valve - diagnostic and t...

Author(s): Teixeira, Tiago cv logo 1 ; Vieira, Manuela cv logo 2 ; Bastos, Mesquita cv logo 3 ; Santos, José António cv logo 4

Date: 2010

Origin: Acta Médica Portuguesa


Description
Escherichia coli endocarditis is a rare condition, even though bacteriemia by such agent is common. The infection, normally from a urinary origin, may, in fact, progress without major hemodynamic disturbance and minimal symptoms, regardless its ability of destruction of heart's valvular apparatus. We present a case report of a 68-year-old man, with a history of aortic valvular mechanic prosthesis, dyslipidemia and hypertension, admitted at the emergency room with refractory fever and urinary tract symptoms. On the hypothesis of endocarditis, he was submitted to transesofagic echocardiography that suggested a prosthetic vegetation, without hemodynamic dysfunction. E. coli was cultured from the blood soon after, and antibiotics adapted according to sensibility testing. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated, both clinically and echocardiographically, with development of periprosthesis abscess, detachment of the prosthesis and extension of the infection to other valves, with hemodynamic dysfunction. The infection was only restrained with a surgical approach, which reflects the importance of this therapeutic weapon in these situations, including the correct timing. Escherichia coli endocarditis is a rare condition, even though bacteriemia by such agent is common. The infection, normally from a urinary origin, may, in fact, progress without major hemodynamic disturbance and minimal symptoms, regardless its ability of destruction of heart's valvular apparatus. We present a case report of a 68-year-old man, with a history of aortic valvular mechanic prosthesis, dyslipidemia and hypertension, admitted at the emergency room with refractory fever and urinary tract symptoms. On the hypothesis of endocarditis, he was submitted to transesofagic echocardiography that suggested a prosthetic vegetation, without hemodynamic dysfunction. E. coli was cultured from the blood soon after, and antibiotics adapted according to sensibility testing. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated, both clinically and echocardiographically, with development of periprosthesis abscess, detachment of the prosthesis and extension of the infection to other valves, with hemodynamic dysfunction. The infection was only restrained with a surgical approach, which reflects the importance of this therapeutic weapon in these situations, including the correct timing.
Document Type Article
Language Portuguese
delicious logo  facebook logo  linkedin logo  twitter logo 
degois logo
mendeley logo


    Financiadores do RCAAP

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia Universidade do Minho   Governo Português Ministério da Educação e Ciência Programa Operacional da Sociedade do Conhecimento EU