[Pneumococcal endocarditis in native valves. Three original observations in the adult].

The authors report three observations of acute pneumococcal endocarditis located in the aorta in one case, and mitral in the two other cases, admitted over a period of 4 years. Two of the three patients required surgical correction, with no surgical complications. Follow-up revealed a rare complication of infectious endocarditis linked to rupture of the head of the two anterior mitral pillars associated with an abscess. The severity of pneumococcal endocarditis is emphasised, concurring with the data from the literature. The role of echocardiography in pneumococcal septicaemia is clear; transthoracic examination is justified in every case of septicaemia, and transoesophageal echography complements this examination in case of diagnostic doubt or cardiovascular complication.