Thrombocytopenic purpura in a 40-year-old patient with Rothia dentocariosa-associated endocarditis

Abstract

A 40-year-old male patient with a history of dental disease was sent to the emergency room mainly for fever, unclear consciousness, and purpura. Computed tomography reveals subarachnoid hemorrhage and blood analysis reveals platelet reduction. The patient was started daily intravenous piperacillin tazobactam glucocorticoid and gamma globulin. Two weeks later, symptoms improved but still had severe complications such as fever, platelet reduction, hepatosplenic abscess, and severe myocardial injury. Subsequently, Rothia dentocariosa was cultured from the blood samples of patient's limb. The patient was started on daily injections of tigecycline and penicillin. Ten days later, symptoms improved and amikacin was tried, which was later confirmed to be ineffective in this patient. Cardiac ultrasound revealed aortic valve vegetations and magnetic resonance imaging revealed brain abscess formation. Then, antibiotics were adjusted to vancomycin and meropenem. Finally, the patient underwent valve replacement. Infectious endocarditis – after surgery, vancomycin and meropenem were utilized for a week leading to symptom resolution. The patient was transferred to rehabilitation hospital. This case will provide clinical experience for the treatment of R. dentocariosa.

Keywords

• brain abscess
• case report
• infectious endocarditis
• rothia dentocariosa
• subarachnoid hemorrhage
• thrombocytopenic purpura