Fatal prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Campylobacter fetus

Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus has a predilection for vascular endoth elium, This report describes a case of a prosthetic Valve infective endocar ditis due to this microorganism. Despite adequate antibiotic combination tr eatment, valvular vegetations and perivalvular suppurative complications ev olved, leading to valvular dysfunction, heart failure and death. Only three other cases of C. fetus prosthetic valve endocarditis have been described previously Campylobacter fetus bacteraemia must be considered cautiously, b ecause of the risk of late cardiac or vascular complications. (C) 2000 The British Infection Society.