Letter to the EditorIsolated pulmonary native valve infectious endocarditis due to Enterococcus faecalis
Introduction
Isolated pulmonary native valve infectious endocarditis (PNVIE) is an uncommon clinical entity accounting for 1.5–2.0% of all admissions for infectious endocarditis (IE). Intravenous drug abuse, alcoholism, sepsis, and catheter related infections account for the majority of predisposing factors [1], [2], [3]. In patients without underlying heart diseases, isolated pulmonary IE is extremely rare and only few cases have been previously reported [2], [4].
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Case report
A 57-year-old man patient was hospitalized because of fever of unknown origin and malaise since the last 2 months before admission. The medical history was only remarkable for smoking habit. He related a 8-kg weight loss during the previous 3 months. Before admission the patient was treated with several antibiotics without resolution of fever.
On admission, blood pressure was 110/60 mm Hg and body temperature was 39 °C. Physical examination was unremarkable and in particular, cardiac murmurs
Discussion
PNVIE is an unusual clinical entity associated to tricuspid valve IE in a high proportion of cases [1], [2]. The most common pathogens that are reported in cases of PNVIE are Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci [1], [2]. IE due to E. faecalis is a severe entity, often associated with some intestinal or genitourinary diseases [5]. In this regard, only few cases diagnosed with isolated PNVIE due to E. faecalis have been previously reported [2], [4], [6]. In our case, the
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