NATIVE-VALUE ENDOCARDITIS DUE TO NEISSERIA-SICCA - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

Many species of the Neisseria, gram-negative diplococci that are frequ ent respiratory commensals in humans, have been regarded as being nonp athogenic or as causing disease in only immunocompromised hosts; in co ntrast, gram-negative diplococci such as Neisseria meningitidis and Ne isseria gonorrhoeae are known pathogens. We report a case in which Nei sseria sicca was the cause of serious infection (with catastrophic con sequences) in an immunocompetent patient and review the world literatu re on endocarditis due to N. sicca.