A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report
Dublin Core
Title
A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report
Subject
Abiotrophia defectiva, Infective endocarditis, Valve replacement, Blood cultures, MALDI-TOF, Case report
Description
Abstract
Purpose Here we describe a patient admitted for a stroke that was unexpectedly correlated with subclinical infective
endocarditis attributable to a rarely opportunistic pathogen, Abiotrophia defectiva.
Case report A 75-year-old man presented with a stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography suggested vegetation
on all aortic valve cusps, despite the absence of clinical or laboratory signs of infection. Surprisingly, three sets of
blood cultures collected without fever were positive for A. defectiva. Although the patient did not exhibit classic signs
of infection during hospitalization, the severity of the valve condition necessitated replacement with a bioprosthesis.
Conclusions This clinical case underscores the importance of investigating the infective origin of endocarditis, even
in the absence of clinical or laboratory evidence. Physicians should maintain a high level of suspicion, especially in
patients with highly suggestive anamnestic characteristics.
Keywords Abiotrophia defectiva, Infective endocarditis, Valve replacement, Blood cultures, MALDI-TOF, Case report
Purpose Here we describe a patient admitted for a stroke that was unexpectedly correlated with subclinical infective
endocarditis attributable to a rarely opportunistic pathogen, Abiotrophia defectiva.
Case report A 75-year-old man presented with a stroke. Transesophageal echocardiography suggested vegetation
on all aortic valve cusps, despite the absence of clinical or laboratory signs of infection. Surprisingly, three sets of
blood cultures collected without fever were positive for A. defectiva. Although the patient did not exhibit classic signs
of infection during hospitalization, the severity of the valve condition necessitated replacement with a bioprosthesis.
Conclusions This clinical case underscores the importance of investigating the infective origin of endocarditis, even
in the absence of clinical or laboratory evidence. Physicians should maintain a high level of suspicion, especially in
patients with highly suggestive anamnestic characteristics.
Keywords Abiotrophia defectiva, Infective endocarditis, Valve replacement, Blood cultures, MALDI-TOF, Case report
Creator
Silvia Puxeddu1
, Valeria Virdis2
, Daniele Sacco2
, Mario Depau2*, Alessandro M. Atzei3
, Lorella Pisano4
,
Marcello Di Rosa2
, Stefania Vacquer2
, Giorgio Accardi5
, Emiliano M. Cirio4
, Aldo Manzin1
, Cristiana Marinelli2
and
Fabrizio Angius1*
, Valeria Virdis2
, Daniele Sacco2
, Mario Depau2*, Alessandro M. Atzei3
, Lorella Pisano4
,
Marcello Di Rosa2
, Stefania Vacquer2
, Giorgio Accardi5
, Emiliano M. Cirio4
, Aldo Manzin1
, Cristiana Marinelli2
and
Fabrizio Angius1*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00814-6
Date
2025
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Silvia Puxeddu1
, Valeria Virdis2
, Daniele Sacco2
, Mario Depau2*, Alessandro M. Atzei3
, Lorella Pisano4
,
Marcello Di Rosa2
, Stefania Vacquer2
, Giorgio Accardi5
, Emiliano M. Cirio4
, Aldo Manzin1
, Cristiana Marinelli2
and
Fabrizio Angius1*, “A case of stroke as a unique sign of subclinical infective endocarditis by Abiotrophia defectiva: a case report,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 25, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12632.