Incidentally found guidewire during bacterial endocarditis workup

Abstract

A 67-year-old female with recent hospitalization for pneumonia was transferred to our facility for high fevers and positive blood cultures for staph aureus. During her treatment for pneumonia, central venous catheter was placed. A systolic murmur was found in conjunction with fever and notable premature ventricular contractions on telemetry monitoring. Chest x-ray and transesophageal echocardiography were then performed, and a free guidewire was identified which was later successfully removed under interventional radiology.