Staphylococcus aureus Infective Endocarditis Complicated by Embolic Stroke and Discitis in a Hypertensive Patient

TL;DR

A 65-year-old man with high blood pressure developed a severe heart infection that led to brain and spine complications, emphasizing the need for early detection.

Contribution

This case highlights the rare but serious complications of Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis involving embolic stroke and discitis.

Findings

The patient had MSSA bacteremia with aortic valve vegetation and periaortic abscess.

MRI showed embolic infarctions and spinal discitis with neural compression.

The case underscores the importance of recognizing systemic and spinal complications in IE.

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) remains a severe and potentially fatal condition characterized by high morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 65-year-old hypertensive male patient who presented with fever, nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain. Subsequently, he developed an altered mental status. Imaging revealed multiple embolic infarctions. Further investigations confirmed methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia with large aortic valve vegetation and a periaortic abscess. Additionally, lumbar spine MRI showed signs suggestive of discitis with neural compression. This case highlights the importance of early recognition of systemic embolization and spinal involvement in IE.

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