ESCHERICHIA-COLI ENDOCARDITIS OF A NATIVE AORTIC-VALVE

The spectrum of organisms causing native valve endocarditis is changin g. Despite an increasing incidence of infections caused by gram-negati ve organisms, they remain a rare cause of native valve endocarditis. E scherichia coli is especially uncommon. We describe the case of a 47-y ear-old man with no previous history of cardiac problems, who presente d with culture-positive E coli endocarditis of his native aortic valve . His complicated clinical course necessitated emergent valve replacem ent, emphasizing the virulence of this organism. The high mortality ra te and significant morbidity associated with this entity necessitates aggressive medical management and early surgical intervention.