Primary bacterial infection of an artery

Introduction: Primary bacterial infection of an artery is difficult to diag nose, especially at the beginning of the illness. Most of the patients come for emergency treatment in the phase of rupture. Methods: The course of il lness in four patients serves as background for discussion of the problems of diagnosis and therapy. Results: Bacterial infection of arteries shows a high rate of complications and, for the aorta, high mortality. Conclusion: If fever of uncertain origin is combined with pain of the stomach or of the back, or with a painful reddish swelling on a limb, this rare disease shou ld be considered in the differential diagnosis.