Endocarditis due to Veillonella alcalescens.

A 60-year-old man with a history of a benign heart murmur for 25 years had evaluation of six months of unexplained fever and heart disease. The fever responded to nonspecific antimicrobial therapy, but progressive aortic insufficiency necessitated aortic valve replacement. Although numerous preoperative blood cultures were negative, Veillonella alcalescens was isolated in pure culture from the excised valve. The patient remained well after two weeks of intravenous therapy with cephalothin and three months of oral therapy with penicillin.