Key result
A 57-year-old man with prosthetic ball valve endocarditis due to Gemella species was successfully treated with intravenous ampicillin, astromycin, and surgical valve replacement.
Case Report (n=1)
No
This report highlights the first documented case in Japan of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Gemella species, demonstrating the necessity of transesophageal echocardiography for diagnosis and the effectiveness of combined medical and surgical treatment.
Rare Gemella PVE case supports individualized combined therapy; extends sparse literature but leaves open generalizability.
A case is presented of endocarditis that was affecting a prosthetic ball valve (Starr-Edwards) and which was caused by Gemella species. A 57-year-old man was admitted with a 3-day history of abdominal pain with fever. At the time of admission, his temperature was 37.7 degrees C and laboratory tests showed elevated inflammatory parameters and an increased neutrophil count. However, transthoracic echocardiogram showed no vegetation. During hospitalization, Gemella spp. were detected by blood culture, and a transesophageal echocardiogram showed vegetation on the prosthetic valve. He was treated with intravenous ampicillin and astromycin, and also underwent valve replacement. This is the first case in Japan of infective endocarditis of a prosthetic valve due to Gemella spp.
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Ukimura et al. (1998) conducted a case report in Prosthetic valve endocarditis (n=1). Intravenous ampicillin, astromycin, and surgical valve replacement was evaluated. A 57-year-old man with prosthetic ball valve endocarditis due to Gemella species was successfully treated with intravenous ampicillin, astromycin, and surgical valve replacement.
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