Staphylococcal thoracic aortitis complicated by aortic dissection

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of aortitis is often delayed as symptoms are largely non-specific. We report a case of Staphylococcal thoracic aortitis in a 73-year-old Chinese woman complicated by aortic dissection. METHODS: The patient presented with pyrexia of unknown origin, and a contrast enhanced computed tomography aortogram revealed a large thrombus at the anterior aspect of the ascending aorta with two large ulcerations as a result of a chronic type A aortic dissection. A hemiarch replacement with a 28 mm Gleweave Vascutek graft was performed with resuspension of aortic valve commisures. Aortic thrombus cultures were positive for coagulase negative Staphylococcus aureaus, and histology showed chronic dissection of the aorta. RESULTS: The patient was treated with intravenous cefazolin for a 6-week duration and made good progress. CONCLUSIONS: This case highlights Staphylococcal infective aortitis complicated by dissection presenting as fever of unknown origin. Timely diagnosis is essential as progression to catastrophic rupture may occur.