Volume 37, Number 1, February 2004
| | Streptococcus constellatus causing myocardial abscess complicated by cerebritis |
Wen-Cheng Tsai1, Liang-Kai Chang2, Tzu-Chiang Lin3
Section of 1Infectious Disease, and 2Cardiology, 3Department of Internal Medicine, Armed Forces Tsoying Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
Received: March 25, 2003 Revised: July 11, 2003 Accepted: July 21, 2003
Corresponding author: Dr. Wen-Cheng Tsai, 10, 555 Alley, Chun-Hsiao Road, Tsoying, Kaohsiung Taiwan, ROC. E-mail:
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Streptococcus constellatus infection is a rare cause of myocardial abscess. The complication of cerebritis is also rare. We report a case of S. constellatus bacteremia in a 21-year-old woman who developed fever and watery diarrhea 7 days prior to admission. Computed tomography of the brain showed severe effacement of the cerebral sulci, narrowing of the ventricular system, and severe brain swelling. Echocardiography showed a cystic lesion of about 2 cm2 over the left atrium. Mannitol and dexamethasone were administered. Hyperventilation was performed. Intravenous penicillin G and ceftazidime were administered but without response. The increased intracranial pressure persisted despite medical treatment. She died 3 days after admission. Culture of cerebrospinal fluid grew S. constellatus and 3 sets of blood cultures grew S. constellatus. This case emphasizes the potential pathogenic role of S. constellatus in myocardial abscess.
Key words: Abscess, cerebritis, myocardial diseases, Streptococcus constellatus
J Microbiol Immunol Infect 2004;37:63-66.
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