Postpartum infective endocarditis with Enterococcus faecalis after vaginal delivery

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is rare in the young population and has a high mortality rate. Traditional risk factors such as valve replacement, cardiac device implantations, and continuous intravenous drug use are well defined in IE. IE after urogenital surgery is less common than dental or gastrointestinal procedures (1). In addition, the pathogens causing endocarditis and the location of cardiac involvement may vary depending on the type of risk factors. Enterococci in the urogenital tract flora can cause about 10% of all IE. Although the agents in pregnancy and postpartum IE are often staphylococci and streptococci, enterococci can also be causative agents, especially after a cesarean section (2). IE with enterococci after vaginal delivery is very rare. Here, we present postpartum IE with Enterococcus faecalis in a 24-year-old healthy woman. To the best of our knowledge, the cases of IE with Enterococcus faecalis after vaginal delivery are extremely rare in the literature.