ABSTRACT
Abstract Granulicatella and Abiotrophia are genera of fastidious Gram-positive cocci commensal of the oral, genitourinary, and intestinal flora. We report the first case of infective endocarditis caused by Granulicatella sp. in a kidney transplant recipient. A 67-year-old male kidney transplant recipient was admitted to the hospital for investigation of fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. On physical examination, he was dehydrated. Laboratory tests identified impaired renal function (creatinine level of 15.5 mg/dl; reference, 3.0 mg/dl), metabolic acidosis, and electrolyte disturbances. Cryptosporidium sp. was identified as the cause of the diarrhea, and the infection was treated with nitazoxanide. On admission, cultures of blood, urine, and stool samples were negative. Echocardiography results were normal. Despite the antimicrobial treatment, the fever persisted. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed infective endocarditis of the mitral valve, and Granulicatella spp. were isolated in blood cultures. Although the patient was treated with penicillin and amikacin, he evolved to septic shock of pulmonary origin and died. Infective endocarditis caused by Granulicatella sp. should be suspected in cases of culture-negative endocarditis.
Resumo Granulicatella e Abiotrophia são gêneros de cocos gram-positivos fastidiosos comensais das floras oral, genitourinária e intestinal. Relatamos o primeiro caso de endocardite infecciosa por Granulicatella sp. em paciente transplantado renal. Paciente do sexo masculino, 67 anos, foi admitido no hospital para investigação de febre, dor abdominal e diarreia. Ao exame físico encontrava-se desidratado. Exames laboratoriais identificaram piora de função renal (creatinina: 15,5mg/dL - níveis basais: 3mg/dL), acidose metabólica e distúrbios eletrolíticos. Cryptosporidium sp foi identificado como causa da diarréia e tal germe foi tratado com nitazoxanida. À admissão, hemoculturas, urocultura e coprocultura negativas além de ecocardiograma normal. A despeito do tratamento antimicrobiano, paciente persistiu febril. Um ecocardiograma transtorácico posterior foi realizado, revelando endocardite em válvula mitral, sendo então identificada em hemocultura Granulicatella sp. Apesar do tratamento com penicilina e amicacina, o paciente evoluiu com quadro de choque séptico de foco pulmonar e óbito. Endocardite infecciosa por Granulicatela sp. deve ser suspeitada em casos de endocardite com hemoculturas negativas.