Aggressive Native Valve Staphylococcus pasteuri Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Recurrent Coronary and Cerebrovascular Emboli.

BACKGROUND

Staphylococcus pasteuri is a rare coagulase-negative staphylococcus that is infrequently identified as a causative agent in infective endocarditis. Its clinical virulence and embolic potential are not well characterized in current literature.

CASE SUMMARY: A 57-year-old man with a history of mitral valve prolapse presented with a 2-month history of constitutional symptoms and hematuria. Investigations revealed S pasteuri bacteremia and a large mitral valve vegetation with severe regurgitation. His clinical course was marked by recurrent ST-segment elevation myocardial infarctions and mycotic aneurysm, subacute embolic strokes with hemorrhagic transformation. He ultimately underwent successful bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement after neurologic stabilization.

DISCUSSION: This case highlights the aggressive nature of S pasteuri in native valve endocarditis. The organism produced large, friable vegetations, leading to a high embolic burden and affecting both coronary and cerebral vasculatures.

TAKE-HOME MESSAGES: S pasteuri is a virulent pathogen capable of causing significant endocardial destruction and should not be dismissed as a contaminant. Large vegetations associated with this organism carry an exceptionally high risk for recurrent embolic events, including rare coronary septic embolization. Early multidisciplinary consultation is vital to navigate the timing of surgery when embolic risk and intracranial hemorrhage coexist.