Concomitant endocarditis and spondylodiscitis due to coagulase-negative Staphylococci and a review of the literature

Karlijn M G Houkes; Saskia E Mudde; Alina A Constantinescu; Nelianne J Verkaik; Erlangga Yusuf

doi:10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01100

Concomitant endocarditis and spondylodiscitis due to coagulase-negative Staphylococci and a review of the literature

IDCases. 2021 Mar 31:24:e01100. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01100. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Karlijn M G Houkes¹, Saskia E Mudde¹, Alina A Constantinescu², Nelianne J Verkaik¹, Erlangga Yusuf¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
² Department of Cardiology, Thorax Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are part of the normal skin flora. Although CoNS are generally considered as low pathogenic microorganisms, they can cause serious infections, particularly in the context of foreign body material.

Case report: Here we present two cases of concomitant infectious endocarditis and spondylodiscitis; one caused by S. epidermidis, the other by S. haemolyticus. Additionally, we reviewed the literature for previously reported cases of concomitant endocarditis and spondylodiscitis due to CoNS.

Conclusion: In patients with back pain and a cardiac device in situ, CoNS should be considered as causative pathogens for possible endocarditis and/or spondylodiscitis, and should not be regarded as contamination.

Keywords: Coagulase-negative staphylococci; Endocarditis; Spondylodiscitis.

Publication types

Case Reports