Infectious endocarditis caused by Escherichia coli

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Trine Kiilerich Lauridsen
  • Magnus Arpi
  • Thomas Fritz-Hansen
  • Niels Frimodt-Møller
  • Bruun, Niels Eske
Although Escherichia coli is among the most common causes of Gram-negative bacteraemia, infectious endocarditis (IE) due to this pathogen is rare. A 67-y-old male without a previous medical history presented with a new mitral regurgitation murmur and persisting E. coli bacteraemia in spite of broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a severe mitral endocarditis. E. coli DNA was identified from the mitral valve and the vegetation, and no other pathogen was found. The case was further complicated by spondylodiscitis and bilateral endophthalmitis. Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) are able to colonize tissue outside the gastrointestinal tract and contain a variety of virulence factors that may enable the pathogens to invade and induce infections in the cardiac endothelia. In these cases echocardiography as the imaging technology is of paramount importance for the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Original languageEnglish
JournalScandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume43
Issue number6-7
Pages (from-to)545-6
Number of pages2
ISSN0036-5548
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2011

ID: 40224344