Cor Vasa 2025, 67(5):651-654 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2025.033

Abiotrophia defectiva - silent invader and real diagnostic challenge

Lujza Ondrušková, Marcela Tavačová, Tibor Malacký
National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Bratislava, Slovakia

Abiotrophia defectiva belongs to the normal human microbiome of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. Rarely, about 1-3% of all infective endocarditis, it can be the cause of infective endocarditis. Although uncommon, it is associated with high mortality and complication rates. The chronic course and difficult isolation requiring specialized culture media are contributing to a delayed diagnosis. Moreover, infective endocarditis by A. defectiva is known for its aggressive nature characterized by the development of large vegetations leading to massive, life-threatening systemic embolizations, valves destructions, and progressive heart failure. Here, we report a serious case of 43 y.o. previously healthy man diagnosed with A. defectiva infective endocarditis presenting with multi-organ septic embolizations.

Keywords: Abiotrophia defectiva, Embollization, Infective endocarditis

Received: February 22, 2025; Revised: February 22, 2025; Accepted: February 28, 2025; Prepublished online: June 2, 2012; Published: November 6, 2025  Show citation

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Ondrušková L, Tavačová M, Malacký T. Abiotrophia defectiva - silent invader and real diagnostic challenge. Cor Vasa. 2025;67(5):651-654. doi: 10.33678/cor.2025.033.
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