Acinetobacter Baumannii Native Valve Infective Endocarditis: A Case Report

Abstract

Infective endocarditis caused by Acinetobacter (A.) baumannii is a rare but severe complication that affects seriously ill, hospitalized patients undergoing invasive procedures. It is associated with an increased mortality rate than that of endocarditis due to the HACEK group (Haemophilus species, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, Kingella kingae) gram-negative bacteria. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman who was diagnosed with infective endocarditis caused by A. baumannii three days following her admission to the intensive unit care (ICU). The diagnosis was made on the basis of repeated blood cultures and transthoracic echocardiography, which revealed mobile vegetation attached to the mitral valve. In spite of aggressive therapeutic regimens, outcomes were poor and the patient died. This report underlines the severe nature of A. baumannii infections, which are still associated with a prolonged hospital stay, and increased morbidity, mortality, and medical costs.