Brucella Endocarditis: a Case Study

Endocarditis is a rare and serious complication of brucellosis and is the main cause of death in this pathology. Diagnosis requires a high level of attention, and is based on the association of epidemiological, clinical and serological elements. Echocardiography plays a crucial role in early diagnosis, as well as in identifying a predisposition to heart disease and local complications typical of this pathology. This case study follows a case of Brucella endocarditis involving the aortic valve, in a 39-year-old male, diagnosed in October 2010. Despite being given complete pharmaceutical treatment, in this instance emergency heart surgery was necessary, due to an inability to control the infection and subsequent changes in the patient’s condition, which were leading to congestive heart failure. Aggressive treatment, with surgery performed during a period of active infection, produced good results in the eradication of infection, and in preventing fatal complications. The patient is now fully recovered, and was given triple therapy for brucellosis according to existing recommendations.