[Endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium hominis after Ross operation. Case report and review of the literature].

CASE REPORT: A case of endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium (C.) hominis in a 41-year-old female patient 1 year after aortic valve replacement with a pulmonary autograft (Ross operation) is described. Diagnosis was established by blood culture and echocardiographic detection of a vegetation on the noncoronary cusp of the autograft. Despite clinical improvement by treatment with ceftriaxone and gentamicin, a cerebral hemorrhage occurred on the 7th day of treatment and neurosurgery was necessary. Progressive insufficiency of the aortic valve and persistent large vegetation required repeated aortic valve replacement 3 weeks after cerebral hemorrhage.

REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE: C. hominis is a Gram-negative, slow-growing and fastidious bacterium, rarely causing endocarditis. Subacute and chronic courses are common. That is why diagnosis often is difficult and delayed. Reviewing the literature, clinical presentation, diagnostics and therapy of endocarditis due to C. hominis are discussed.