# Prosthetic Aortic Valve Endocarditis Caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex: A Case Report

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare instance of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis caused by the multidrug-resistant Burkholderia cepacia complex, which responded well to combination antibiotic therapy.

## Contribution

The paper presents a rare case of Burkholderia cepacia complex causing prosthetic valve endocarditis and highlights its successful treatment with combination antibiotics.

## Key findings

- Burkholderia cepacia complex is an exceedingly rare cause of prosthetic valve endocarditis.
- The case showed an excellent response to combination antibiotic therapy without requiring surgical intervention.
- Only a few cases of BCC-induced prosthetic valve endocarditis have been reported in the medical literature.

## Abstract

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a rare condition caused by infection of prosthetic heart valves (PHV) or repaired native valves. Onset from the time of implantation can be used to classify it into early and later categories. Gram-positive cocci are the predominant cause of early PVE (less than one year after implantation), though other less common organisms can also cause PVE. We report a case of early prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by gram-negative Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC). This multidrug-resistant organism is an exceedingly rare cause of PVE. Only a handful of cases have been reported in medical literature. Its inherent resistance to the commonly used treatment modalities presents a unique challenge. Often, surgical intervention and removal of the prosthesis are required to ensure resolution. We present a case of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis caused by Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) that showed an excellent response to combination antibiotics.