Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Acinetobacter spp: a rare case and literature review.

A rare case of prosthetic valve endocarditis from Acinetobacter spp occurring 9 months postoperatively is described. The patient initially received empirical therapy against pathogens commonly associated with prosthetic valve endocarditis, but his condition did not improve. Identification of bacteremia due to Acinetobacter spp was not attributed to any of the classic nosocomial factors such as presence of a catheter or a recent invasive procedure. The patient did well with an intravenous regimen of meropenem and tobramycin instituted according to susceptibility testing. Physicians should be aware of this rare association of a nosocomial pathogen such as Acinetobacter spp with prosthetic valve endocarditis occurring long after the initial cardiothoracic procedure.