Postcardiotomy Endocarditis Due to Neisseria perflava on a Prosthetic Aortic Valve

The first case of bacterial endocarditis due to Neisseria perflava after placement of a graft in the ascending aorta and a prosthetic aortic valve is presented. Sudden death due to a suture break of the graft allowed documentation of a vegetation on the prosthetic valve ring. The potential danger of organisms ordinarily of low pathogenicity in postcardiotomy endocarditis is stressed.