Group B streptococcal infective endocarditis in a young non-pregnant female with rheumatic heart disease - A Case Report

Abstract

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a rare cause of infective endocarditis in adults associated with a high mortality rate due to the frequent occurrence of local and systemic complications. Here we report a case of infective endocarditis (IE) in a young non-pregnant female with a history of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) who presented with a short history of fever, shortness of breath and constitutional symptoms. GBS was isolated from a single blood culture along with echocardiographic findings of a cardiac vegetation and ophthalmologic findings of a Roth spot. Based on the Modified Duke Criteria, a definitive diagnosis of infective endocarditis was made. She was treated with a prolonged course of intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone, with gentamicin being added to the regimen, following which she made a complete recovery.

Keywords

• group b streptococcus, infective endocarditis, roth spot, bacteraemia, rheumatic heart disease