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

: 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.