INFECTIOUS ENDOCARDITIS DUE TO NONTYPHI SALMONELLA IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS - REPORT OF 2 CASES AND REVIEW

Endocarditis is not usually considered a complication of AIDS, Because salmonellal bacteremia is common in HIV-infected patients and because salmonellae have a propensity to adhere to endothelial cells, these p atients are at risk of endocarditis and endarteritis. We report two ca ses of endocarditis due to Salmonella enteritidis and review three pre viously reported cases, All five patients had underlying heart valve d isease and developed fever, breakthrough or relapsing bacteremia, hear t murmurs, and cardiac failure; four of five patients were older than 45 years, One patient died, but the other four were successfully treat ed with beta-lactam agents alone or in combination with aminoglycoside s or with ofloxacin (valve replacement was not required), As AIDS pati ents get older, the number of cases of endocarditis or endarteritis du e to Salmonella species may increase, particularly in geographic areas where Salmonella species are prevalent.