Diphtheroid Bacterial Endocarditis After Insertion of a Starr Valve

Abstract

Diphtheroids rarely cause bacterial endocarditis. Bacterial endocarditis occurs in approximately 1% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and the mortality of this complication is high. A patient with bacterial endocarditis caused by a diphtheroid, and occurring after the insertion of an aortic Starr valve was cured following treatment with penicillin and streptomycin. The successful treatment of this patient is noteworthy in view of the well established fact that endocarditis due to bacterial contamination of sutures or synthetic graft materials is notoriously resistant to antimicrobial agents, and often necessitates re-operation for the removal of the infected suture or prosthesis.