Enterococcal endocarditis following sigmoidoscopy and mitral valve prolapse

Arch Intern Med. 1984 Apr;144(4):850-1.

Abstract

There is considerable controversy regarding antimicrobial prophylaxis against infective endocarditis for routine sigmoidoscopy without biopsy in patients with underlying valvular heart disease. Sigmoidoscopy is known to produce brief, low-grade bacteremia in some patients. Persons with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) may be at risk of infective endocarditis developing during transient bacteremia. We describe a 67-year-old man with known MVP in whom enterococcal endocarditis developed following routine sigmoidoscopy. We believe this to be the first such reported case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood / microbiology
  • Electrocardiography
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / etiology*
  • Gentamicins / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mitral Valve Prolapse / complications*
  • Penicillin G / therapeutic use
  • Sigmoidoscopy / adverse effects*
  • Streptococcal Infections* / drug therapy

Substances

  • Gentamicins
  • Penicillin G