Work

Small colony variant E. faecalis as cause for bioprosthetic heart valve endocarditis

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: We describe a patient with an endocarditis of a biological heart valve prosthesis caused by a small colony variant Enterococcus faecalis . Human infections caused by a small colony variant (SCV) E. faecalis are rare and only five patients have been described in literature, four of which involved endocarditis. The SCV E. faecalis isolated from blood culture bottles resembled streptococci by Gram staining and exhibited atypical growth on standard agar plates with small white colonies after 48 hours of incubation. This case describes a rare case of E. faecalis associated with endocarditis with small colony growth, which can be difficult to recognize in medical microbiological laboratories using conventional techniques. These difficulties with identification can delay initiation of adequate treatment and may affect patient outcome.

Source: The Microbe

DOI: 10.1016/j.microb.2025.100566

Authors: Jordy Dekker, Laura M.L. Dix

Institution: Erasmus MC

Language: English

Topic: Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,150