Abiotrophia defectiva: A Rare Causative Agent of Infective Endocarditis With Severe Complications

Infective endocarditis (IE) primarily affects the endocardium of the heart valves. One of the common neurological complications of IE is the embolization of endocardial vegetation, which can obstruct the cerebral arteries. We describe the case of a 47-year-old male patient who developed neurological symptoms as a complication of IE. Abiotrophia defectiva, a nutritionally altered Streptococcus, was identified in his blood culture. Treatment of both neurological and vegetative complications is often challenging and necessitates the involvement of a multidisciplinary team. Given the high mortality rate associated with these complications, the diagnosis of IE should be taken into consideration for individuals presenting with fever and neurological abnormalities.