Pneumococcal Endocarditis, Sepsis, and Meningitis in an Immunocompromised Patient: A Case Study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon but serious cause of infective endocarditis (IE), particularly in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with untreated HIV. When pneumococcal IE occurs, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality due to the high prevenance of complications such as acute valvular destruction and septic embolization. Therefore, early recognition and prompt surgical intervention are paramount to improving outcomes. This case report highlights the complexity of diagnosing and managing pneumococcal IE in the context of concurrent infections and immunosuppression. CASE REPORT We present a rare case of a 37-year-old man with untreated HIV who presented with fever, confusion, and back pain. He had a history of pneumococcal sepsis and meningitis a year prior. This time, he was diagnosed with pneumococcal sepsis, meningitis, and mitral valve infective endocarditis with large vegetations, which triggered the prompt involvement of a multidisciplinary treatment team for further operative management in addition to the indicated antimicrobial therapy. The case was concluded with successful operative mitral valve replacement. CONCLUSIONS Pneumococcal infective endocarditis is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of pneumococcal bacteremia. In patients with risk factors such as untreated HIV, a high degree of clinical suspicion is required to ensure early diagnosis. Timely surgical intervention, along with targeted antimicrobial therapy, are critical to improving outcomes in these patients. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to prevent further complications, making early operative management a key element in the successful treatment of pneumococcal IE. Improving vaccination efforts in vulnerable populations could reduce the incidence of such severe cases.