Aortic valve endocarditis caused by Salmonella species

• Published in: Journal of clinical ultrasound Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 45 - 48
• Main Authors: Pliakos, Christos, Nouskas, Ioannis, Dobros, Nikos, Sofos, Antonis, Zebekakis, Pantelis, Lazaridis, Anastasios, Tourkantonis, Achilles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-01-1999; Wiley
• Subjects: Aged; Aortic Valve - diagnostic imaging; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial endocarditis, myocarditis and pericarditis. Bacterial diseases of the aorta, limb vessels and lymphatic vessels; Biological and medical sciences; Echocardiography; Echocardiography, Transesophageal; endocarditis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - diagnostic imaging; Endocarditis, Bacterial - microbiology; Heart Valve Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Heart Valve Diseases - microbiology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; salmonella; Salmonella - isolation & purification; Salmonella Infections - diagnostic imaging; Salmonella Infections - microbiology; transesophageal echocardiography; Sonography; Human; Salmonella; Echocardiography; Cardiovascular disease; Male; Infection; Case study; Cardiac valvular disease; Endocardial disease; Endocarditis; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Salmonellosis; Diagnosis; Esophageal route; Aortic valve; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0091-2751; 1097-0096
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0096(199901)27:1<45::AID-JCU8>3.0.CO;2-D

We report a case of aortic valve endocarditis caused by an uncommon pathogen, Salmonella species. Transthoracic echocardiography proved to be inadequate to show the valvular destruction. Transesophageal echocardiography was instrumental in establishing the diagnosis of endocarditis by documenting aortic vegetations with attendant tissue damage extending beyond the valve leaflets (ie, subvalvular and perivalvular damage). The findings were anatomically confirmed at surgery, which also revealed an aortic root–right ventricular fistula and several aortic ring abscesses. Early implementation of transesophageal echocardiography is strongly recommended in patients with suspected endocarditis.© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 27:45–48, 1999