Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Endocarditis Complicated by Splenic Infarction and Embolic Stroke

Cureus. 2023 Jun 19;15(6):e40633. doi: 10.7759/cureus.40633. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious condition associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. The risk factors for IE include underlying heart disease, intravenous drug use, cardiac surgery, and interventional procedures. Enterococci are a common cause of IE, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections are becoming increasingly prevalent. In this report, we present the case of an 88-year-old female patient with multiple cardiac comorbidities who developed VRE endocarditis with splenic infarction and embolic stroke. The patient was successfully treated with a combination of antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy. This report highlights the importance of recognizing the potential complications of VRE endocarditis and the need for appropriate management to prevent adverse outcomes. To the best of our knowledge, only one other case of VRE endocarditis with multiple systemic complications has been documented so far.

Keywords: embolic stroke; infective endocarditis; sepsis; splenic infarction; vancomycin resistant enterococcus (vre).

Publication types

  • Case Reports