Key result
Unprophylaxed elective abortion linked to fatal multivalvular endocarditis in a young patient.
Why the study?
Bacterial endocarditis after elective abortion is rare but can be life-threatening, with limited data on cases without preexisting cardiac disease.
Case Report (n=1)
Multivalvular bacterial endocarditis can occur after elective pregnancy termination in patients without preexisting cardiac disease, highlighting the potential importance of appropriately timed antibiotic prophylaxis.
Endocarditis risk after abortion without prophylaxis warrants prophylaxis consideration even without cardiac defects; single case leaves open routine antibiotic efficacy.
BACKGROUND: Bacterial endocarditis is a potentially life-threatening disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that one patient per 1 million will develop endocarditis after elective abortion. CASE: A young woman with no history of cardiac defects developed acute bacterial endocarditis after elective abortion performed without appropriately timed antibiotic prophylaxis. She subsequently required surgical debridement of the tricuspid valve and replacement of the aortic valve. She experienced numerous postoperative sequelae eventually culminating in death. CONCLUSION: Although rare, it is possible to develop multivalvular, right-sided and left-sided endocarditis after elective pregnancy termination in a patient without preexisting cardiac disease. This patient should have received antibiotic prophylaxis before initiation of the suction curettage.
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Jeppson et al. (2008) conducted a case report in Multivalvular Bacterial Endocarditis (n=1). Elective abortion without appropriately timed antibiotic prophylaxis was evaluated on Development of acute bacterial endocarditis and subsequent death. Elective abortion without appropriately timed antibiotic prophylaxis in a young woman without preexisting cardiac disease led to fatal multivalvular bacterial endocarditis.
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