Infective Endarteritis due to Staphylococcus capitis.

A 79-year-old man with chronic pancytopenia due to myeloblastic dysplasia was admitted to our hospital with a fever and lower abdominal bruit. He had developed an infectious aortic aneurysm with abdominal aortic dissection due to Staphylococcus epidermidis and had been treated with clindamycin for five months. He was also receiving weekly blood transfusions. S. capitis subsp. ureolyticus was isolated from his blood. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a contrast deficit area in the abdominal aorta (Picture A-C, arrow) near the known false lumen (Picture B, arrow head). After 28 days of intravenous vancomycin therapy, the bacteremia and deficit area were improved (Picture D). We concluded that the patient had infective endarteritis due to S. capitis. Infective endarteritis is reported as a rare complication with ductus arteriosus (1) and aortic dissection (2). Its prevalence may be underestimated owing to difficulties in its diagnosis prior to progression to infectious aortitis or aneurysm.

Picture.

The authors state that they have no Conflict of Interest (COI).