Bacillus cereus endocarditis in native aortic valve

• Published in: Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 154 - 157
• Main Authors: Ngow, H.A, Wan Khairina, W.M.N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2013; Springer Japan
• Subjects: Adult; Aortic valve; Aortic Valve - microbiology; Aortic Valve - pathology; Aortic Valve Insufficiency - pathology; Bacillus cereus; Bacillus cereus - isolation & purification; Blood - microbiology; Case Report; Culture Media; Echocardiography; Endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - microbiology; Endocarditis, Bacterial - pathology; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - diagnosis; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections - microbiology; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Infectious Diseases; Male; Medical Microbiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Virology; Bacillus cereus; Echocardiography; Aortic valve; Endocarditis
• ISSN: 1341-321X; 1437-7780
• DOI: 10.1007/s10156-012-0427-2

Abstract Bacillus cereus endocarditis is rare. It has been implicated in immunocompromised individuals, especially in intravenous drug users as well as in those with a cardiac prosthesis. The patient was a 31-year-old ex-intravenous drug addict with a past history of staphylococcal pulmonary valve endocarditis, who presented with symptoms of decompensated cardiac failure. Echocardiography showed severe aortic regurgitation with an oscillating vegetation seen on the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve. The blood cultures grew Bacillus cereus . We report this as a rare case of Bacillus cereus endocarditis affecting a native aortic valve.