Capnocytophaga canimorsus: a rare case of conservatively treated prosthetic valve endocarditis

: Jalava-Karvinen P, Grönroos JO, Tuunanen H, Kemppainen J, Oksi J, Hohenthal U

Publisher: WILEY

: 2018

APMIS

: APMIS

: 126

: 5

: 453

: 456

: 4

: 0903-4641

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/apm.12839

We describe a rare case of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by the canine bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus in a male aged 73 years. The diagnosis of infective endocarditis was unequivocal, as it blood cultures were positive for C.canimorsus and vegetations were detected on transesophageal echocardiography; the modified Duke criteria were fulfilled. PET-CT showed intense F-18-FDG uptake of the prosthetic valve area. The patient was treated with antibiotics alone (no surgery), and is now on life-long suppressive antibiotic therapy. To our knowledge, this is the third reported case of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by C. canimorsus and the first one to have been treated conservatively.

antibiotic treatment, Capnocytophaga canimorsus, clinical microbiology, dogs, Prosthetic valve endocarditis