Cardiovascular Diseases & Diagnosis

A Case of Brucella Endocarditis of the Native Mitral Valve

Abstract

Muhammad R. Ali*, Komal Ejaz and Daniel Kazmierski

Brucellosis is a rare zoonotic infection with an annual incidence of 100 to 200 cases in the United States. Infective endocarditis secondary to brucellosis involving native or prosthetic valves is contemplated to be an extremely rare entity, accounting for less than 2% of the total cases but amounting to 80% of mortality in brucellosis. As Brucella can present with non-specific sign and symptoms, clinicians need to have a higher degree of suspicion of Brucella endocarditis in culture-negative endocarditis patients particularly those who have a history of exposure to farm animals. Timely diagnosis with appropriate management using antibiotics can prevent valvular damage and restore the valve's structural integrity. In this case report, we present a case of culture-negative, serology proven Brucella endocarditis of native mitral valve, with an initial presentation of stroke that was successfully treated with combination antibiotic therapy.