Open AccessBordetella holmesii: a rare cause of bacterial endocarditis in a post-splenectomy patient
Author(s) -
Sarbjit Clare,
Ahmed Tariq,
Rohit Singh,
Stephen Gough
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.11.2009.2459
Subject(s) - medicine , splenectomy , endocarditis , rare disease , valve replacement , fungemia , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , surgery , disease , spleen , stenosis , mycosis
We present a rare case of endocarditis in a 33-year-old woman with a splenectomy. The patient presented with meningeal symptoms and was diagnosed with endocarditis on the medical admissions unit using a portable echocardiography machine. Bordetella holmesii was cultured from the blood on admission and the patient underwent subsequent aortic valve replacement. We discuss the importance of echo skills within the specialty of acute medicine and the benefits of swift senior review at the front door. We emphasise the guidelines on antibiotic prophylaxis for the post-splenectomy patient as well as discuss the pathogen B holmesii and its growing association of septicaemia in asplenic individuals.