Corynebacterium Jeikeium Endocarditis in a Hemodialysis Patient with an Arteriovenous Fistula Requiring Surgical Intervention

A 49 years old male on hemodialysis through a right arteriovenous fistula was admitted to the hospital with a 3 – 4 weeks history of fatigue and weight loss. Blood culture grew gram positive bacilli later identified as Corynebacterium jeikeium. An echocardiogram revealed 1.3 cm x 1.6 cm vegetation on the aortic valve, an aortic root ring abscess and he developed a new second degree atrioventricular block. He underwent a composite graft replacement of the aortic valve, aortic root and ascending aorta and was finally discharged on a 6 weeks course of intravenous vancomycin.