Enterococci are common organisms associated with endocarditis, but infection by Enterococcus durans is very rare. To our knowledge, only 3 cases have been reported in the medical literature, and all 3 have involved native valves. Here we publish the first reported case (to our knowledge) of E. durans endocarditis in association with a bioprosthetic aortic valve. After the organism and its antibiotic susceptibility were identified, the 74-year-old male patient was treated successfully with teicoplanin and gentamicin, over a course of 6 weeks.
Keywords: Aortic valve, bioprosthetic; Enterococcus durans/drug effects/isolation & purification; drug resistance, multiple, bacterial; drug therapy, combination; endocarditis, bacterial/therapy; gentamicins/therapeutic use; microbial sensitivity tests; teicoplanin/therapeutic use.