A rare case of native tricuspid valve endocarditis caused by Aerococcus sanguinicola

Abstract

• Aerococcus sanguinicola bacteremia is mostly seen in older males with urinary tract abnormalities or indwelling catheters. • Complicated bloodstream infections and infective endocarditis are rare. • More complicated infections are being reported due to improved methods for identification. • We describe the first presentation of right sided endocarditis caused by A. sanguinicola. An elderly man with no known valvular disease or history of intravenous drug use, intracardiac devices or central venous catheters was diagnosed with a tricuspid valve endocarditis and corresponding septic pulmonary emboli. Blood cultures showed Aerococcus sanguinicola being the likely causative pathogen. The patient did have a suprapubic catheter and bladder stones. Urinary tract abnormalities in older males and an indwelling urinary tract catheter are known risk factors for A. sanguinicola bacteremia but complicated bloodstream infections and infective endocarditis are rare. More complicated infections are being reported recently though possibly due to improved methods for identification. We describe a unique presentation of right sided endocarditis caused by A. sanguinicola to increase awareness of its potential to cause invasive disease.