[Propionibacterium acnes infectious endocarditis]. / Endocardites infectieuses à Propionibacterium acnes.

BACKGROUND: Propionibacterium acnes, a Gram positive microaerophilic bacteria is considered to have a low level of virulence. Nevertheless, it can be associated with infective endocarditis. We report 2 cases and a review of the literature. CASE REPORTS: The first man developed an acute prosthetic valve infective endocarditis and died. The second case was also a prosthetic valve infective endocarditis in a patient who developed infectious spondylitis. DISCUSSION: P. acnes is an uncommon causal agent in infective endocarditis and appears to have a predilectio for prosthetic valves. A prior history of skin infection is rare. P. acnes grow quite slowly, often requiring 7 to 14 days for identification. All isolates of P. acnes from blood or valve do not necessarily mean contamination.

Double postinfarction cardiac rupture of left ventricular free wall and papillary muscle documented by transthoracic echocardiography.

A 70-year-old man presented with a posteroinferolateral acute myocardial infarction complicated by rupture of the left ventricular inferior wall and partial rupture of the posteromedial papillary muscle. Transthoracic echocardiography documented both of these complications and led to prompt and successful surgical repair.