Hemophilus--a highly virulent cause of endocarditis
Brodsky, E.; Varsano, S.; Steiner, Z.; Klajman, A.
Harefuah 111(3-4): 76-78
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-7768 PMID: 3792951 Document Number: 271393
A 47-year-old woman presented with pyrexia or unknown origin. The diagnosis of Haemophilus endocarditis was made during the seventh week of her illness on the basis of positive blood culture. She was treated with intravenous ampicillin, 12 g/day. Although blood cultures became sterile, she developed severe complications, including systemic embolization, mitral regurgitation, and left heart failure. There had been no previous history of heart disease. Owing to the difficulties in isolation and growth, Haemophilus species may be the cause for some of the cases of so-called culture-negative endocarditis. A delay in appropriate diagnosis and treatment of Haemophilus endocarditis can result in much greater morbidity and a much higher mortality than in cases caused by the more common pathogens.