Streptococcus bovis endocarditis secondary to colorectal cancer: A case report.

BACKGROUND

Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) bacteremia and infective endocarditis have a well-established association with colorectal cancer (CRC), though the mechanisms underlying this potentially bidirectional relationship remain poorly understood.

CASE SUMMARY: This case report describes a 55-year-old male with a history of hypertension and hemicolectomy due to advanced colorectal adenomas who presented with syncope, septic shock, and a 12-pound weight loss over 3 weeks. Subsequent blood cultures grew S. bovis, with a transthoracic echocardiogram revealed mobile vegetations on both the aortic and mitral valves. A sessile, non-obstructing cecal adenocarcinoma was also observed on colonoscopy. The patient was started on 6 weeks of intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by surgical repair of both heart valves and a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy.

CONCLUSION

This presentation underscores how CRC-induced mucosal disruption may predispose to bacterial translocation, resulting in systemic infection and endocarditis.