Vancomycin-Resistant <i>Streptococcus thoraltensis</i>: A Case Report of Bacterial Endocarditis and Review of Literature on Infections Caused by This Pathogen

<i>Streptococcus thoraltensis</i> is a rare species, part of the viridans streptococcus group, found initially in rabbits and pigs, which can be vancomycin-resistant. We present the case of a 65-year-old patient, a smoker and chronic alcohol consumer with chronic obstructive pulmonary di...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Roxana Mihaela Chiorescu, Sandor Botond Buksa, Alexandru Botan, Mihaela Mocan, Carmen Costache, Dan Alexandru Toc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/12/3/566
Description
Summary:<i>Streptococcus thoraltensis</i> is a rare species, part of the viridans streptococcus group, found initially in rabbits and pigs, which can be vancomycin-resistant. We present the case of a 65-year-old patient, a smoker and chronic alcohol consumer with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and multiple dental foci who had been diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis caused by <i>Streptococcus thoraltensis</i>. The particular elements of the case consisted of an atypical clinical presentation with diarrheal stools, abdominal pain, concomitant damage to the aortic and tricuspid valves, the presence of large vegetations (>2 cm), and a vancomycin-resistant strain of <i>Streptococcus thoraltensis</i>. The evolution of the patient was unfavorable due to septic embolisms, respiratory failure requiring orotracheal intubation, and septic and cardiogenic shock. Infections with <i>Streptococcus thoraltensis</i> are challenging to treat because of the severity of the clinical form it causes and the pattern of antibiotic resistance in this germ. Based on our brief review, <i>Streptococcus thoraltensis</i> is an extremely rare human pathogen previously described as the etiologic agent of infectious endocarditis in only one case.
ISSN:2076-2607