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A rare Serratia marcescens-associated acute endocarditis of a tricuspid valve in an intravenous drug user

A case report and literature review

  • case report
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Summary

Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative bacillus that is an opportunistic agent in respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and septicemia. It is rarely also a cause of infective endocarditis which follows a rapid and devastating course, typically in persons with history of intravenous drug use (IDU). This article reports a fatal case of a 27-year-old patient with a known history of IDU, who presented with clinical symptoms concerning right-sided endocarditis as well as signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Finally, a detailed review of the literature is provided concerning the acute endocarditis of a tricuspid valve, especially associated with Serratia marcescens infection.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the laboratory technicians and support staff for their timely effort, sincerity, and dedication towards work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Cardiological Clinic, East Slovak Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavol Jozef Safarik University, Ondavska 8, 040 11, Kosice, Slovakia

    Tibor Poruban, Mikulas Hunavy, Stanislav Carnoky & Marta Jakubova

  2. Healthcare Surveillance Authority, Kosice, Slovakia

    Daniel Farkas

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  1. Tibor Poruban
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  2. Mikulas Hunavy
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  3. Daniel Farkas
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  4. Stanislav Carnoky
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  5. Marta Jakubova
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Correspondence to Tibor Poruban.

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T. Poruban, M. Hunavy, D. Farkas, S. Carnoky and M. Jakubova declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Poruban, T., Hunavy, M., Farkas, D. et al. A rare Serratia marcescens-associated acute endocarditis of a tricuspid valve in an intravenous drug user. Wien Klin Wochenschr 135, 631–636 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-023-02217-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-023-02217-0

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