Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Legionella is a bacterium that primarily causes respiratory infections. Rarely, it can result in extrapulmonary infections like endocarditis. We present a case of native valve endocarditis caused by Legionella in a 74-year-old male. Our patient initially presented with fever, fatigue, confusion, moderate cough, and dysuria. Subsequent presentation included atrial fibrillation and pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. His clinical sequelae and positive urine Legionella antigen prompted treatment with antibiotics and cardiac medication. Echocardiograms revealed vegetation on the mitral valve leaflet suggestive of endocarditis. The patient improved after appropriate antibiotic and anti-arrhythmic therapy. In presenting this case and literature review, we emphasize the importance of considering atypical pathogens in common clinical presentations.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.71870
Authors: Angelina A Porter, Anthony Abro, Nisha Desai, Habeeb Yazdani
Institution: Ascension
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4403565065