Native Valve Infective Endocarditis Secondary to Acute Cholecystitis in the Setting of Escherichia coli Bacteremia: A Case Report

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium that affects the heart valves. It is usually caused by bacteremia secondary to distant infections such as urinary tract infections, surgical procedures, or other sources of pathogenic entry into the blood. It often affects damaged native valves, as well as prosthetic valves, and is primarily caused by Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. Infective endocarditis secondary to Escherichia coli is rare, despite E. coli being one of the most common pathogens causing Gram-negative bacteremia. Between 1909 and 2002, 36 cases of native valve infective endocarditis were reported that met Duke criteria. The majority were secondary to urinary tract infections due to E. coli. Infective endocarditis secondary to E. coli bacteremia in the setting of acute cholecystitis is highly uncommon, and this case report aims to highlight this unusual presentation of infective endocarditis.