Infectious endocarditis caused by Cutibacterium avidum in a patient with endocardial pacemaker and multiple drug hypersensitivity reactions: a clinical case

Abstract

Cutibacterium avidum is a well-known skin commensal, that sometimes can cause superficial or invasive infections, including infectious endocarditis. Cases of C. avidum-induced infectious endocarditis of native heart valves, prosthetic valves or other cardiac implantable devices are described, which is associated with the biological feature of the pathogen with a tendency to form biofilms. The article presents a clinical case of infectious endocarditis, caused by C. avidum, associated with implantation of pacemaker in 42-yearold patient with a history of multiple drug hypersensitivity reactions to antibacterial drugs. This individual feature interfered with effective antibacterial therapy of local infection of the intracardiac device, which led to the development of infectious endocarditis with vegetations, required surgery with tricuspid valve repair and pacemaker replacement.

Keywords

• infectious endocarditis
• cutibacterium avidum
• cardiac implantable devices
• antibacterial therapy
• drug hypersensitivity