The Austrian syndrome: a case report and review of the literature

Infection. 2013 Jun;41(3):695-700. doi: 10.1007/s15010-012-0361-3. Epub 2012 Nov 4.

Abstract

A 61-year-old man presented with fever and altered mental status. He was intubated for respiratory distress and was found to have multilobar pneumonia for which antibiotic therapy was instituted. However, his mental status continued to deteriorate despite appropriate antibiotic therapy for his pneumonia. The results from lumar puncture revealed meningitis and endocarditis was evident on a trans-esophageal echocardiogram. His blood and respiratory cultures grew Streptococcus pneumoniae. The patient was diagnosed with Austrian syndrome. After appropriate changes to his antibiotic regimen and an aortic valve replacement, he recovered and was discharged.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aortic Valve / surgery
  • Bacteremia / complications
  • Bacteremia / diagnosis*
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacteremia / pathology
  • Blood / microbiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / complications
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / complications
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / diagnosis*
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / microbiology
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / complications
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / microbiology
  • Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / pathology
  • Respiratory System / microbiology
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents