Q fever endocarditis

Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2010 Feb;10(1):27-31. doi: 10.2174/187152610790410918.

Abstract

Coxiella burnetii, the agent of Q fever, produces a variety of clinical syndromes. The most frequent and serious chronic presentation is endocarditis, which presents unspecifically as a blood-culture negative endocarditis. It occurs almost exclusively in patients who have pre-existing valvular disease or who are immunocompromised. Without prompt recognition and appropriate antimicrobial therapy, the course of Q fever endocarditis is severe and potentially fatal. The epidemiology, signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, diagnosis and treatment of Q fever endocarditis are presented in our review.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / etiology*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Q Fever / complications*
  • Q Fever / diagnosis
  • Q Fever / drug therapy
  • Q Fever / microbiology