Troubles neurologiques

A Case of Streptococcus bovis Endocarditis Presenting as a Neurosurgical Emergency

Abstract

Santos MM, Belo D, Cruz S, Loureiro J and Livraghi S

Rheumatic manifestations have been reported to occur in as many as of 41% in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) [1]. Back pain is the second most common rheumatic manifestation of IE, although, the occurrence of both infective endocarditis and spondylodiscitis is rare, with an estimated general incidence of 2.5% [2,3]. Among such cases, Streptococcus bovis is the most frequently isolated etiologic agent due to its specific tropism for vertebra [4]. Streptococcus bovis endocarditis usually presents with an indolent course and tends to occur in older males with underlying colonic pathology [5]. Streptococcus bovis spondylodiscitis commonly affects the lumbar spine, has a slow and insidious onset and is usually managed successfully with intravenous antibiotics [6-8].