Last update:
29-Sep-2000

Arch Hellen Med, 17(1), January-February 2000, 71-74

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Αcute infectious endocarditis due to Salmonella enteritidis

A. MICHAEL,¹ S.P. DOURAKIS,¹ A. ANDROULAKIS,² S.J. HADZIYANNIS
¹Academic Department of Medicine,
²State Cardiology Department, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece

Acute endocarditis due to Salmonella enteritidis is a possible, but rare, complication among patients with predisposing heart lesions who develop bacteremia. The case is reported of a 71 year-old woman with fever of 18 days’ duration. Physical examination disclosed a holosystolic 2/6 murmur at the mitral valve. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a large vegetation on the posterior cusp and Salmonella enteritidis was isolated from blood cultures. She was treated with ciprofloxacine, amicacin and ceftriaxone. Due to worsening heart failure, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery was decided but the patient died before surgery could be performed. In conclusion, acute endocarditis due to Salmonella enteritidis is rare and the prognosis can be lethal possibly needing surgical replacement of the infected valve in addition to antibiotic therapy.

Key words: Endocarditis, Salmonella enteritidis.