Fatal Neisseria macacae infective endocarditis: first report.

INTRODUCTION: Neisseria macacae is a Gram-negative diplococcus, found in the oropharynx of healthy Rhesus Monkeys. Infections caused by N. macacae in humans are extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: We present here the first case of N. macacae infective endocarditis in a 65-year-old man with a native aortic valve infection complicated by a peri-aortic abscess. N. macacae was isolated from blood culture and was found on the cardiac valve using 16S rDNA detection. Despite an appropriate antibiotic therapy, and aortic homograft replacement, and mitral repair, the patient died 4 days after surgery from a massive hemorrhagic stroke.