A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report
Abstract Purpose Here we describe a patient admitted for a stroke that was unexpectedly correlated with subclinical infective endocarditis attributable to a rarely opportunistic pathogen, Abiotrophia defectiva. Case report A 75-year-old man presented with a stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00814-6 |
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| author | Silvia Puxeddu Valeria Virdis Daniele Sacco Mario Depau Alessandro M. Atzei Lorella Pisano Marcello Di Rosa Stefania Vacquer Giorgio Accardi Emiliano M. Cirio Aldo Manzin Cristiana Marinelli Fabrizio Angius |
| author_facet | Silvia Puxeddu Valeria Virdis Daniele Sacco Mario Depau Alessandro M. Atzei Lorella Pisano Marcello Di Rosa Stefania Vacquer Giorgio Accardi Emiliano M. Cirio Aldo Manzin Cristiana Marinelli Fabrizio Angius |
| author_sort | Silvia Puxeddu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Purpose Here we describe a patient admitted for a stroke that was unexpectedly correlated with subclinical infective endocarditis attributable to a rarely opportunistic pathogen, Abiotrophia defectiva. Case report A 75-year-old man presented with a stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography suggested vegetation on all aortic valve cusps, despite the absence of clinical or laboratory signs of infection. Surprisingly, three sets of blood cultures collected without fever were positive for A. defectiva. Although the patient did not exhibit classic signs of infection during hospitalization, the severity of the valve condition necessitated replacement with a bioprosthesis. Conclusions This clinical case underscores the importance of investigating the infective origin of endocarditis, even in the absence of clinical or laboratory evidence. Physicians should maintain a high level of suspicion, especially in patients with highly suggestive anamnestic characteristics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2489205d17fa41f0b6ca59aa35bd1db2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1865-1380 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-2489205d17fa41f0b6ca59aa35bd1db22025-01-26T12:13:26ZengBMCInternational Journal of Emergency Medicine1865-13802025-01-011811710.1186/s12245-025-00814-6A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case reportSilvia Puxeddu0Valeria Virdis1Daniele Sacco2Mario Depau3Alessandro M. Atzei4Lorella Pisano5Marcello Di Rosa6Stefania Vacquer7Giorgio Accardi8Emiliano M. Cirio9Aldo Manzin10Cristiana Marinelli11Fabrizio Angius12Microbiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of CagliariLaboratory of Clinical and Microbiological Analysis, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariLaboratory of Clinical and Microbiological Analysis, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariLaboratory of Clinical and Microbiological Analysis, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariCardiology Unit, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariCardiac Surgery Unit, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariLaboratory of Clinical and Microbiological Analysis, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariLaboratory of Clinical and Microbiological Analysis, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariInfectious Diseases Clinic, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariCardiac Surgery Unit, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of CagliariLaboratory of Clinical and Microbiological Analysis, ARNAS “G. Brotzu” Hospital CagliariMicrobiology and Virology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of CagliariAbstract Purpose Here we describe a patient admitted for a stroke that was unexpectedly correlated with subclinical infective endocarditis attributable to a rarely opportunistic pathogen, Abiotrophia defectiva. Case report A 75-year-old man presented with a stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography suggested vegetation on all aortic valve cusps, despite the absence of clinical or laboratory signs of infection. Surprisingly, three sets of blood cultures collected without fever were positive for A. defectiva. Although the patient did not exhibit classic signs of infection during hospitalization, the severity of the valve condition necessitated replacement with a bioprosthesis. Conclusions This clinical case underscores the importance of investigating the infective origin of endocarditis, even in the absence of clinical or laboratory evidence. Physicians should maintain a high level of suspicion, especially in patients with highly suggestive anamnestic characteristics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00814-6Abiotrophia defectivaInfective endocarditisValve replacementBlood culturesMALDI-TOFCase report |
| spellingShingle | Silvia Puxeddu Valeria Virdis Daniele Sacco Mario Depau Alessandro M. Atzei Lorella Pisano Marcello Di Rosa Stefania Vacquer Giorgio Accardi Emiliano M. Cirio Aldo Manzin Cristiana Marinelli Fabrizio Angius A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report International Journal of Emergency Medicine Abiotrophia defectiva Infective endocarditis Valve replacement Blood cultures MALDI-TOF Case report |
| title | A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report |
| title_full | A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report |
| title_fullStr | A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report |
| title_short | A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report |
| title_sort | case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by abiotrophia defectiva a case report |
| topic | Abiotrophia defectiva Infective endocarditis Valve replacement Blood cultures MALDI-TOF Case report |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00814-6 |
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