Infective Endocarditis due to Achromobacter Xylosoxidans

Achromobacter xylosoxidans was first described by Yabuuchi and Ohyama in 1971 from purulent ear discharge of patients with chronic, inflammatory otitis media. Endocarditis due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans species is a very rare yet serious, endovascular infection. Affected individuals are usually immunocompromised, but nosocomial outbreaks have also been defined. It has a near-fatal outcome without surgical intervention. The clinical presentation of IE is highly variable which makes its diagnosis very difficult. The diagnosis of infectious endocarditis requires multiple clinical (modified Duke Criteria), laboratory (microbiological), and imaging findings (CT scan, MRI etc. ). The treatment of infections caused by this organism is difficult due to the lack of a standard therapy and resistance to several antibiotics.