Cardiobacterium hominis and Cardiobacterium valvarum: Two Case Stories with Infective Episodes in Pacemaker Treated Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Cardiobacterium hominis and Cardiobacterium valvarum are well known, though rare, etiologic agents of infective endocarditis. Cardiac devices are increasingly implanted.Case Reports:Two cases of infective episodes in pacemaker (PM) treated patients with respectively C. hominis and C. valvarum are presented. In one case blood-culture bottles yielded growth of C. hominis at two episodes with two years apart. At the second episode a vegetation was recognized at the PM lead and the PM device and lead was removed. In the C. valvarum case, echocardiography revealed a bicuspid aortic valve with severe regurgitation and a more than 1 cm sized vegetation.Conclusion:The cases illustrate the diversity in disease severity by Cardiobacterium species. Careful follow up has to be performed in order not to overlook a relatively silent relapsing infection.

A case of Cardiobacterium valvarum endocarditis with cerebral hemorrhage after MVR, TVP and vegetation removal operation

“…As in the previous cases published, our case developed infectious endocarditis as well, and large, devastating valvular vegetations formed, which had been reported as the characteristic change in HACEK bacteria [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 19 ]. Additionally, this case visited the dentist due to gingivitis 2 weeks before admission, which is similar to the previous cases showing recent dental work or poor dentition were commonly associated risk factors [ 3 – 5 , 7 , 11 ].…”

“…In contrast to C. hominis, rare case reports and information about C. valvarum were published since its first identification in 2004 [ 7 ], so its clinical implication is not as clear as the former. All the published C. valvarum strains were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, including this case, while MALDI-TOF can only provide a presumptive but not conclusive identification [ 2 – 4 ], which may be attributed to the imperfect bacterial library.…”

“…Notably, an abrupt cerebral hemorrhage with herniation occurred in this case, and an intravascular thrombus was found in the right temporal lobe, never reported before. Other neurological complications were common in the previous cases including cerebral infarction [ 1 , 4 , 6 ], subarachnoid hemorrhage [ 4 , 7 , 9 ], cerebral vasculitis [ 1 ] and cerebral embolization [ 2 ]. Neurological sequelae may be another clinical feature of C. valvarum bacteria.…”

Clinical Detection of Chronic Rhinosinusitis through Next-Generation Sequencing of the Oral Microbiota

“…However, Campylobacter also accounts for 1% of the oral microbiome in the saliva of healthy adults [ 19 ] and this proportion was identical to our control group but lower in CRS patients. Cardiobacterium is a Gram-negative bacillus bacterium of the HACEK group (represents the species of Haemophilus, Aggregatibacter, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella, and Kingella) and accounts for 5–10% of infections in endocarditis patients who do not use intravenous drugs [ 45 , 46 ]. Currently, only two species of Cardiobacterium hominis and Cardiobacterium valvarum have been identified.…”

Vertebral Osteomyelitis, Discitis, and Epidural Abscess: A Rare Complication of Cardiobacterium Endocarditis

“…Cardiobacterium is a known but rare cause of subacute native, prosthetic valve and cardiac implantable electronic device endocarditis. 3 , 4 Moreover, septic arthritis, pericarditis, bacterial meningitis, osteomyelitis, neonatal sepsis, peritonitis, and lacrimal gland infection have also been reported in addition to endovascular infections. 5 - 11 Cardiobacterium species were shown to be part of the plaques in smokers in a study investigating marginal and subgingival plaque formation.…”