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Tropheryma whipplei aortic valve endocarditis without systemic Whipple's disease
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 09/02/2011
Chan V et al. – Culture–negative endocarditis is most often the result of prior antimicrobial therapy. Tropheryma whipplei is the etiologic agent of Whipple's disease, which is typically characterized by diarrhea, weight loss, and intra–abdominal lymphadenopathy. The authors present the case of a 48–year–old male with Whipple's endocarditis of the aortic valve who did not develop signs of systemic Whipple's disease. Their patient was treated with a regimen that included ceftriaxone for 6 weeks prior to his cardiac surgery, yet valve pathology demonstrated abundant T. whipplei, suggesting that a prolonged antibiotic course is necessary for the treatment of Whipple's endocarditis.