Cardiobacterium hominis Endocarditis in a Patient With a Prolapsed Mitral Valve

Abstract

0196-4399/00 (see frontmatter) © 2008 Elsevier Clinical Microbiology Newsletter 30:18,2008 Cardiobacterium hominis is a well-known but rare cause of bacterial endocarditis, with fewer than 70 cases reported in the English literature (1). The most common risk factor for the development of C. hominis endocarditis is the presence of preexisting cardiac disease involving anatomic defects of the aortic and mitral valves. Other important risk factors are the presence of a prosthetic valve implant or a history of rheumatic fever. This report describes a case of C. hominis endocarditis in a previously healthy 50-year-old male with a known history of mitral valve prolapse and serves to remind readers of the significance of this organism as a cause of serious infection in patients with predisposing risk factors.