Blocking a rash diagnosis: a rare case of infective endocarditis.

We report a case of a previously healthy, afebrile patient who presented with subacute bilateral lower extremity rash and complete heart block, which was later found to be secondary to infective endocarditis. His transoesophageal echocardiogram detected multiple vegetations and blood cultures were positive for Granulicatella adiacens, a nutritionally variant streptococcus that is a normal component of oral flora and thought to be responsible for approximately 5% of all cases of streptococcal endocarditis. Due to concerns for renal failure, the patient was treated with an unconventional regimen of ampicillin and ceftriaxone. He underwent a valve replacement and pacemaker placement and has done well since hospital discharge.

Chlamydia ascites: a call for sexually transmitted infection testing.

A 26-year-old gravida 2, para 2-0-0-2 woman with a recent uncomplicated vaginal delivery 10 weeks prior presented to our hospital with 5 weeks of abdominal swelling and discomfort. Four weeks after delivery, the patient began having right upper quadrant pain and was found to have cholelithiasis. She underwent an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy 6 weeks prior to admission, but started to develop worsening abdominal swelling 1 week postoperatively. Abdominal distension and shifting dullness were present on examination. CT of the abdomen and pelvis was remarkable for moderate-volume ascites and mild enhancement of the pelvic peritoneum. Paracentesis removed 2.46 L of ascites fluid with 76% lymphocytic predominance. Results for Chlamydia trachomatis were positive in urine, cervical swab and ascitic fluid. Doxycycline was prescribed for a diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease exudative ascites. Since discharge, she has completed her antibiotic course and reports resolution of all symptoms without recurrence of ascites.