Polymicrobial infective endocarditis with anterior spinal artery syndrome in a drug addict.

Right-sided endocarditis has increased in frequency since the 1970's, and it accounted for 14% of total infective endocarditis (Robbins et al, 1986) and 54% of drug addicts who developed endocarditis (Tuazon and Sheagren, 1974). Staphylococcus aureus is the most common pathogen, which is in contrast to the streptococcal association in left-sided endocarditis (Osler, 1885). Polymicrobial infective endocarditis is uncommon. Most of these patients were intravenous drug abusers, and had high surgical rates and mortality rates (Saravolatz et al, 1978).