Nocardial endocarditis after mitral valve replacement: case report and review of the literature

Rev Port Cardiol. 2010 Feb;29(2):291-7.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Nocardia causes several types of infection in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts, and may affect any organ. Endocarditis due to infection by Nocardia species is rare and has a poor prognosis. To our knowledge, after a literature review, only 12 cases of nocardial endocarditis have been reported, most treated with valve replacement. We report the case of a patient with prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Nocardia species, who was successfully treated with antimicrobial chemotherapy only (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole), instead of valve replacement.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / etiology*
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Mitral Valve / surgery*
  • Nocardia Infections / etiology*
  • Prosthesis-Related Infections / etiology*