Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Mycobacterium chelonei

Abstract

Postoperative prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Mycobacterium chelonei occurred in a man after replacement of the aortic valve. The organism was isolated from blood cultures and from vegetations taken postmortem from the edge of the inserted valve. This is believed to be the first documented report of a mycobacterial endocarditis.