Infective endocarditis and brain abscess secondary to Aggregatibacter aphrophilus. (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Daoud, Hussein; Abugroun, Ashraf; Olanipekun, Olalekan; Garrison, Daniel
• Is Part Of: IDCases. Volume 17(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Case Reports; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2019.e00561
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-2509

Abstract

Abstract: Aggregatibacter aphrophilus is a rare cause of infective endocarditis that was first described in 1940 by Khairat et al. and is now classified under the HACEK group of bacteria ( Haemophilus spp., Aggregatibacter spp., Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella kingae) . There is limited literature describing the extracardiac complications of infective endocarditis caused by this organism. We report a case of a 53-year-old male with no significant past medical history who developed acute infective endocarditis complicated by a brain abscess caused by A. aphrophilus . The patient underwent aspiration of the abscess and treated with a long course of intravenous antimicrobials. This case represents a rare complication of infective endocarditis caused by A. aphrophilus and to the best of our knowledge, is the second reported case in the literature describing such a complication in a previously healthy patient. Although neurological sequela is associated with higher mortality and may be the presenting symptom of infective endocarditis, it may also be clinically silent – only detected upon imaging.