Escherichia coli urosepsis complicated with myocarditis mimicking acute myocardial infarction.

Myocarditis is defined clinically as inflammation of the heart muscle, which can be caused by infectious agents, toxins or immunologic reactions. Most recognized cases of acute myocarditis are secondary to cardiotropic viral infections. Escherichia coli rarely cause myocarditis. The authors report a 25-year-old woman with E coli-induced acute pyelonephritis and septic shock that was complicated with acute myocarditis. Her symptoms mimicked acute myocardial infarction. The authors discuss the possible mechanism of bacterial sepsis-induced myocarditis.