SUBACUTE BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS DUE TO HEMOPHILUS PARAINFLUENZAE

Abstract

This case is presented because of its unusual etiologic organism and successful outcome and to emphasize the possibility of almost complete recovery from the effects of cerebral embolism occurring during the course of bacterial endocarditis. Hemophilus parainfluenzae is a member of a group of organisms classified as follows: 1 Of these, H. influenzae and H. parainfluenzae are known to cause endocarditis. 2 H. parainfluenzae has also been known to cause leukopenia, cutaneous rash 3 and bacteremia. 4 Khairat 5 reported endocarditis caused by a Hemophilus the cultural and morphologic characters of which were different from those of H. parainfluenzae. An atypical H. influenzae is reported as the etiologic organism in infection of a patent ductus arteriosus. 6 In 1938, Miles and Gray 2b collected 34 cases of subacute bacterial endocarditis caused by Hemophilus organisms. Seven of these were proved to be H. parainfluenzae, and the authors expressed the opinion that