Mycobacterium fortuitum: A Neglected Cause of Culture-Negative Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis and a Literature Review
Infectious Disease Reports, cilt.18, sa.2, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 18 Sayı: 2
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/idr18020023
- Dergi Adı: Infectious Disease Reports
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: culture-negative endocarditis, prosthetic valve, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, <italic>Mycobacterium fortuitum</italic>
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background/Objectives: Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria is a rare but serious condition and is often associated with delayed diagnosis due to initially negative routine blood cultures with late positivity after prolonged incubation. Mycobacterium fortuitum, a rapidly growing mycobacterium, is an uncommon cause of endocarditis but may result in significant morbidity if not promptly identified. Methods: We report a 67-year-old man with prior cardiac surgery who presented 18 months later with recurrent fever, weight loss, and renal dysfunction. Initial blood cultures, echocardiography, and standard imaging were non-diagnostic. Ongoing clinical suspicion prompted extended mycobacterial cultures with prolonged incubation and molecular identification performed at a reference laboratory, which revealed M. fortuitum. Results: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated susceptibility to amikacin, ciprofloxacin, and clarithromycin, and treatment was initiated with an amikacin-based combination regimen. The patient showed marked clinical and laboratory improvement, including resolution of fever and stabilization of renal function. Conclusions: This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of M. fortuitum prosthetic valve endocarditis and underscores the limitations of routine diagnostic methods in culture-negative endocarditis. It also emphasizes the importance of prolonged incubation and targeted microbiological workflows in suspected cases.