Q: 57 year old male is admitted via ED to ICU with sepsis. Blood cultures drawn in ED grew 2 of 2 bottles positive culture for Abiotrophia. Next day patient developed right sided hemiplegia. What would be your concern?


Answer: Possible Endocarditis

Abiotrophia in humans is a resident of oral, urogenital and intestinal tracts,  and can be a cause of infective endocarditis. Also it may raise suspicion of underlying intestinal malignancy if there is no previous history of valve or prosthetic surgeries or of dental work.



Reference:

1. Seohyun Park, Hea Won Ann, Jin Young Ahn, Nam Su Ku, Sang Hoon Han, Geu Ru Hong, Jun Young Choi, Young Goo Song, and June Myung Kim - A Case of Infective Endocarditis caused by Abiotrophia defectiva in Korea - Infect Chemother. 2016 Sep; 48(3): 229–233. 

2. Akkoyunlu Y, Iraz M, Kocaman G, Ceylan B, Aydin C, Aslan T. - Abiotrophia defectiva endocarditis presenting with hemiplegia. - Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2013;6:e8907.