Coxiella burnetii endocarditis on bioprosthetic aortic valve, with peripheral arterial embolism

摘要

Acute limb ischemia related toCoxiella burnetiiendocarditis is rare. We report an original case of a 68-year-old man hospitalized for recurrent acute left limb ischemia in a context of atrial flutter, which revealedC. burnetiiendocarditis. This case illustrates that even if embolic events are uncommon, septic embolisms must be systematically searched for in case ofC. burnetiiendocarditis. Conversely, extensive etiologic explorations must be performed in case of systemic embolism. New molecular techniques represent a major step forward in infective endocarditis diagnosis. Finally, diagnosis must be suspected in case of unexplained fever, inflammatory syndrome, or embolic event, especially in patients at risk. Conversely, in case of chronic Q fever, an immunodeficiency cause must be researched.