Nosocomial methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcal aureus (MSSA) native mitral valve acute bacterial endocarditis (ABE) due to radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) procedure

Nosocomial endocarditis (NE) has been recognized with increasing frequency. Most cases of NE attributable to virulent pathogens (eg, Staphylococcus aureus) present as acute bacterial endocarditis (ABE). The increase in NE is related to the widespread use of cardio-invasive procedures involving cardiac catheterization or temporary or semipermanent central venous catheters. We present a 58-year-old man who developed nosocomial methicillin-sensitive S. aureus native mitral valve ABE a week after a radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) procedure. Cardiac valvular vegetations attributable to S. aureus ABE may be visualized by cardiac echocardiography as early as a week after the onset of valvular infection, as was the case here. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of NE in patients who develop fevers and high-grade/continuous (MSSA / MRSA) bacteremias after cardiac catheterization-related interventions, eg, RCA procedures.