Mechanical valve endocarditis caused by Gemella morbillorum.

As the usual pathogen spectrum of a late-onset (>12 month post-operatively) prosthetic valve endocarditis is similar to normal valve endocarditis, with the exception of coagulase-negative staphylococcus, a prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by unusual bacterial pathogens represents a therapeutic and diagnostic dilemma. The lack of well established criteria or clinical experience for the management of such infections makes therapy and prognosis difficult to determine. A case of successfully treated Gemella morbillorum prosthetic valve endocarditis and a review of the relevant literature are presented.