[Endocarditis due to commensal Neisseria (author's transl)].

Three cases of endocarditis due to Neisseria mucosa are reported. The pathogenic role of these commensal microorganisms is reviewed. A survey of the literature found a dozen cases of endocarditis due to commensal Neisseria before the antibiotic era, and fourteen more since then (not including our three observations). Some of distinctive features can be delineated from the study of cases seen during the second period. Patients mean age is fairly low (34 years), incidence of cutaneous manifestations is high, and vascular complications (mainly embolism) are common (52, 1% of the cases). Overall prognosis is good and the recovery rate (82 %) is similar to that seen in non-D Streptococcus endocarditis.