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Case Reports: Unusual presentation of more common disease/injury
Neisseria gonorrhoeae infective endocarditis
  1. Marylou Fenech,
  2. Thelma Xerri,
  3. Paula Grech and
  4. Anette Portelli
  1. Infectious Diseases/ Haematology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
  1. Correspondence to Dr Marylou Fenech; marylou.fenech{at}gov.mt

Abstract

We present a case of endocarditis secondary to disseminated Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection affecting the native tricuspid valve. After a thorough workup, our patient was treated conservatively with appropriate intravenous antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks. A follow-up echocardiogram showed resolution of the vegetation without any residual valvular involvement. Literature review reveals 99 cases of infective endocarditis which occurred secondary to N. gonorrhoeae infection, of which, only 4 cases (6%) affected the tricuspid valve. Through this case report, we highlight the importance of thorough history taking including a sexual and social history, as well as careful recognition of the clinical signs, which helped us reach this uncommon diagnosis while always maintaining a high clinical suspicion of rare causes of endocarditis.

  • Infectious diseases
  • Gonorrhoea
  • Valvar diseases
  • Malignant and Benign haematology

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2022-249723

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MF and TX were responsible for the manuscript preparation and literature review. AP and PG contributed towards editing and review of the final manuscript. All authors were involved in the patient’s management and treatment.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.