Open AccessAustrian Syndrome: a report of an exceptionally rare and deadly syndrome
Author(s) -
Gustavo Nobre de Jesus,
Tania da Silva Carvalho,
Alexandre Caldeira,
S. Fernandes
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
medicina
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 10
eISSN - 2176-7262
pISSN - 0076-6046
DOI - 10.11606/issn.2176-7262.v53i4p468-471
Subject(s) - medicine , meningitis , endocarditis , context (archaeology) , pneumonia , bacteremia , pediatrics , ceftriaxone , pneumococcal pneumonia , streptococcus pneumoniae , shock (circulatory) , intensive care medicine , surgery , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , paleontology
Austrian Syndrome is the rare combination of a triad of endocarditis, meningitis, and pneumonia in the context of pneumococcal infection. Due to the involvement of several anatomical sites, the Austrian syndrome has a high mortality. Importantly, endocarditis is usually not considered during pneumococcal infection.We present a case of Austrian syndrome in a previously healthy 67-year-old woman. She featured with mental state alteration, respiratory failure, and shock, and was diagnosed with ceftriaxone-sensitive pneumococcal bacteremia, meningitis, and pneumonia. A transesophageal echocardiogram revealed vegetation of the mitral valve. Despite an improvement in her medical condition, she remained in a coma and died due to neurological complications.Even though the major cause of mortality in Austrian syndrome is cardiac involvement, meningitis is also linked with high morbidity and eventually death. We emphasize the relevance of an early diagnosis of the triad in order to decrease the very high mortality associated with this syndrome.