Pacemaker endocarditis caused by Propionibacterium acnes: a case report. 2012

Warren Noel, and Nadjib Hammoudi, and Elzbieta Wegorowska, and Cossimo D'Alessandro, and Olivier Steichen
Internal Medicine Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France.

A 74-year-old man, with a permanent pacemaker placed 2 years ago for high-grade atrioventricular block, was admitted for worsening fatigue, confusion, and thrombocytopenic purpura without fever. White blood cell count and C-reactive protein were elevated, and echocardiography revealed a 6 × 3-cm echogenic mass surrounding the pacemaker leads. Multiple blood cultures were performed, and only 1 bottle grew Propionibacterium acnes at 93 hours. The patient underwent surgery, and 16S rRNA gene polymerase chain reaction amplification confirmed the presence of P. acnes in the removed vegetation. Patients with late-onset, device-related endocarditis often present with vague symptoms and fever may be absent, obscuring the clinical diagnosis. Blood cultures and transesophageal echocardiography are key diagnostic tests. As a slow-growing, low virulent, and common human skin germ, P. acnes can be wrongly considered as a blood culture contaminant.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D010138 Pacemaker, Artificial A device designed to stimulate, by electric impulses, contraction of the heart muscles. It may be temporary (external) or permanent (internal or internal-external). Cardiac Pacemaker, Artificial,Artificial Cardiac Pacemaker,Artificial Cardiac Pacemakers,Artificial Pacemaker,Artificial Pacemakers,Cardiac Pacemakers, Artificial,Pacemaker, Artificial Cardiac,Pacemakers, Artificial,Pacemakers, Artificial Cardiac
D011425 Propionibacterium acnes A bacteria isolated from normal skin, intestinal contents, wounds, blood, pus, and soft tissue abscesses. It is a common contaminant of clinical specimens, presumably from the skin of patients or attendants. Corynebacterium acnes,Corynebacterium parvum
D004697 Endocarditis, Bacterial Inflammation of the ENDOCARDIUM caused by BACTERIA that entered the bloodstream. The strains of bacteria vary with predisposing factors, such as CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS; HEART VALVE DISEASES; HEART VALVE PROSTHESIS IMPLANTATION; or intravenous drug use. Bacterial Endocarditides,Bacterial Endocarditis,Endocarditides, Bacterial
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D016908 Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections Infections caused by bacteria that retain the crystal violet stain (positive) when treated by the gram-staining method. Bacterial Infections, Gram-Positive,Infections, Gram-Positive Bacterial,Bacterial Infection, Gram-Positive,Bacterial Infections, Gram Positive,Gram Positive Bacterial Infections,Gram-Positive Bacterial Infection,Infection, Gram-Positive Bacterial,Infections, Gram Positive Bacterial
D017548 Echocardiography, Transesophageal Ultrasonic recording of the size, motion, and composition of the heart and surrounding tissues using a transducer placed in the esophagus. Transesophageal Echocardiography
D020878 Device Removal Removal of an implanted therapeutic or prosthetic device. Device Removals,Removal, Device,Removals, Device

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