Abstract
Untreated chronic Q fever causes a high number of complications and deaths. We present cases of chronic Q fever that were not diagnosed until after the patients underwent cardiac valve surgery. In epidemic areas, Q fever screening of valve surgery patients secures early initiation of treatment and can prevent illness and death.
Keywords:
Coxiella burnetii; Q fever; Q fever endocarditis; bacteria; cardiac surgical procedures; chronic Q fever; valvular heart disease; valvulopathy; zoonoses.
MeSH terms
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Aged
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Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
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Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
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Coxiella burnetii / immunology
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Coxiella burnetii / isolation & purification*
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Delayed Diagnosis
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Endocarditis, Bacterial / complications
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Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
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Endocarditis, Bacterial / immunology
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Endocarditis, Bacterial / surgery
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Female
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Heart Valve Prosthesis / microbiology*
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Heart Valves / surgery
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Humans
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Immunoglobulin G / blood
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Immunoglobulin G / immunology
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Male
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Q Fever / complications
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Q Fever / diagnosis*
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Q Fever / immunology
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Q Fever / surgery
Substances
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Antibodies, Bacterial
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Immunoglobulin G