Culture-negative endocarditis: “whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”; the importance of asking the right questions!
- Cardiology, Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust, Rothwell Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN16 8UZ, UK
- Amar Bhavin Kachhia, thisisitamar{at}gmail.com
- Published 20 September 2009
Summary
The complicated case of a patient with recurrent culture-negative endocarditis with a history of repeated mitral valve replacement is described. Investigations disqualified common pathology but serology revealed a diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis. The ongoing problematic management of this patient is described, followed by a brief review of the clinical features, investigations and treatment of Q fever.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None.
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Patient consent: Patient/guardian consent was obtained for publication.
