Gram-negative endocarditis following cystoscopy.

Patients with bacteriuria are at risk for local and distant infectious complications at the time of urologic procedures. The American Heart Association recommends that penicillin and streptomycin be given prophylactically to patients with rheumatic or congenital heart disease without reference to the presence or absence of bacteriuria. A patient with unrecognized calcification of the mitral annulus who underwent cystoscopy for evaluation of urinary retention is reported. Although bacteriuria was present preoperatively antibiotics were not given. Subsequently, Serratia marcescens and possibly Proteus morgani mitral valve infection developed and the patient died. Calcification of the mitral valve annulus and an extensive urinary tract infection were identified at autopsy. This case suggests that calcification of the mitral annulus may be an endocarditis risk factor. The spectrum of prophylactic antibiotic coverage given at the time of urologic procedures to patients with congenital or aquired heart disease, including calcification of the mitral annulus, should include whatever organisms are present in the urine.