Lost without Occam's razor: Escherichia coli tricuspid valve endocarditis in a nonintravenous drug user

Abstract

The unusual case of a 31-year-old woman who developed tricuspid valve endocarditis with positive blood cultures for Escherichia coli is presented. The patient had no underlying cardiac disease or predisposing conditions that could have made her susceptible to the native valve infection. Despite a lengthy course of intravenous antibiotics only a partial response was achieved. The patient underwent cardiac surgery and had a good postoperative recovery.