A Rare Case of Infective Endocarditis Caused by Gemella haemolysans

Abstract

Gemella haemolysans is a gram-positive coccoid, facultative anaerobe of the mucous membranes. In rare cases, it has been identified as an opportunistic pathogen in the development of endocarditis. Here, we describe a case of infective endocarditis in a patient with a bicuspid aortic valve. A 38-year-old man presented with the complaint of exertional dyspnea of one month duration. He was found to have leucocytosis and his blood cultures grew Gemella haemolysans. Trans-esophageal echocardiography showed a bicuspid aortic valve with 1.5 x 1.5 cm vegetative mass, severe aortic regurgitation, and an aortic root abscess. The patient was started on intravenous ampicillin and gentamycin. He then underwent mechanical aortic valve replacement and bovine reconstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract. Our case highlights the importance of considering atypical pathogens as causative agents of infective endocarditis.