H vaginicola Endocarditis In a Heroin Addict

To the Editor.— Helpern and Rho reported endocarditis and sepsis as a cause of death in 8.7% of narcotic addicts dying in New York city over a 12-year period.1Hussey and Katz found that 8% of 102 addicts with a variety of infections had endocarditis.2The mortality was high. In a review of 60 cases Conway3noted involvement of the triscuspid valve in 40%, with evidence of preexisting valvular disease in 22%. The staphylococcus was the usual invading organism, withCandidaandpseudomasvarieties and gram-negative enteric bacteria reported less frequently. Since the addict is prone to use nonsterile techniques for intravenous injections, invasion by lesscommon organisms can be expected. Herellea vaginicolais a member of the tribe Mimeae. Invasion of the blood stream has been reported following contamination of polyethylene catheters. Most instances of clinical disease resulting fromH vaginicolahave occurred in patients with serious