Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis with multifocal septic emboli: can prompt diagnosis help avoid surgery?

PATIENT: Male, 23.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis.

SYMPTOMS: Abdominal pain • cachexia • diarrhea • fever • vomiting.

MEDICATION: -.

CLINICAL PROCEDURE: Mitral valve replacement.

SPECIALTY: Surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Rare disease.

BACKGROUND

Although Corynebacterium diphtheriae is well known for causing diphtheria and other respiratory tract infections, in very rare cases it can lead to severe systemic disease.

CASE REPORT: This is a case of a previously healthy young man (no prosthetic valve in situ or other known congenital defect), presenting with a Corynebacterium diphtheriae infection leading to endocarditis. The patient reported no I.V. drug use, so it can be assumed that no risk factors for infective endocarditis were present.

CONCLUSIONS

This report aims to raise suspicion for this specific infection in order to proceed with the right treatment as soon as possible.