1. Infective Endocarditis Due to Neisseria sicca and Associated With Intravenous Drug Abuse
- Author
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Valenzuela Ga, Pizzani E, McGroarty D, and Davis T
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Neisseriaceae Infections ,Neisseria sicca ,Microbiology ,medicine ,Humans ,Oral secretions ,Substance Abuse, Intravenous ,Anterior leaflet ,Tricuspid valve ,biology ,Intravenous drug ,business.industry ,Endocarditis, Bacterial ,General Medicine ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,Dermatology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Infective endocarditis ,Neisseria species ,Neisseria ,business - Abstract
Intravenous drug abusers are subject to infective endocarditis from unusual pathogens, including the saprophytic species of Neisseria, sometimes transmitted by needles contaminated with oral secretions. We have recently encountered such a case, in which a 37-year-old man with vegetations on the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve had blood cultures positive for N sicca. A history of intravenous drug abuse using needles contaminated with oral secretions should alert clinicians to the possibility of infective endocarditis due to saprophytic Neisseria species.
- Published
- 1992