Rothia aeria endocarditis in a patient with a bicuspid aortic valve: case report

Abstract

Rothia aerie is an uncommon pathogen mainly associated with endocarditis in case reports. In previous reports, endocarditis by R. aerie was complicated by central nervous system embolization. In the case we report herein, endocarditis by R. aerie was diagnosed after acute self-limited diarrhea. In addition to the common translocation of R. aerie from the oral cavity, we hypothesize the possibility of intestinal translocation. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and genetic sequencing are important tools that can contribute to early and more accurate etiologic diagnosis of severe infections caused by Gram-positive rods.