Invasive pneumococcal infections: Austrian syndrome.

Austrian syndrome or Osler's triad represents an association of pneumonia, meningitis and endocarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumonia. It is a clinical rarity, with a severe prognosis, mainly due to the very aggressive evolution of endocarditis, together with the underlying pathology of the patients. We present the case of a 54-years-old female with several risk factors for invasive pneumococcal infections (post-traumatic splenectomy, type II DM and hepatic cirrhosis) that was admitted to our service with Austrian syndrome and emphasize some important clinical aspects of the disease and treatment recommendations described in the literature. Our aim is to increase awareness and allow a correct and early treatment which would improve the high mortality observed in Austrian syndrome. We also emphasize the need for antipneumococcal vaccination, especially in high risk patients.