Listeria monocytogenes endocarditis: report of a case and review of the literature.

Endocarditis due to Listeria monocytogenes is rare with only 13 cases cited in the world's literature. We report an additional case with a review of the previously reported patients. In contrast to other clinical forms of listeriosis, endocarditis does not tend to occur in patients with severe underlying disorders or those on immunosuppressive regimens. Listeric endocarditis has a predilection for left-sided cardiac involvement (100 percent), and systemic embolization is a major clinical feature (58 percent). Prognosis of listeric endocarditis is unfavorable and the mortality rate (43 percent) exceeds that for bacterial endocarditis with more common pathogens (23 percent). Antibiotic sensitivity data suggest that ampicillin or penicillin may be the chemotherapeutic agents of choice.