Bacteremia caused by Bergeyella zoohelcum in an infective endocarditis patient: case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Bergeyella zoohelcum is an aerobic, Gram-negative bacterium that is frequently isolated from the upper respiratory tract of dogs, cats and other mammals. Clinically, B. zoohelcum has been reported causing cellulitis, tenosynovitis, leg abscess and septicemia, which is closely connected with animal bites. Here we describe a case of bacteremia in an infective endocarditis (IE) patient caused by B. zoohelcum, in China. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old infective endocarditis woman who had no history of dog bite nor other mammal exposure suffered bacteremia caused by B. zoohelcum. This patient, without evidence of polymicrobial infection, was treated with cefuroxime and had a good outcome. CONCLUSIONS: B. zoolhelcum bacteremia is rarely reported in IE patients. Our report expands the range of known bacterial causes of infective endocarditis.