Haemophilus parainfluenzae endocarditis with multiple cerebral emboli in a pregnant woman with coronavirus

De Castro, Alicia; Abu-Hishmeh, Mohammad; El Husseini, Ibrahim; Paul, Lisa

Diagnosis of HACEK endocarditis remains a challenge because of its variable presentation and the slow-growing characteristics of the organisms. Here, the patient did not present with classic bacteremia and fever with peripheral embolic or vasculitic symptoms. Blood cultures were initially negative, yielding growth of gram-negative bacteria only on the fifth day of incubation. Additionally, a viral respiratory tract infection with subsequent neurological involvement had been initially suspected because of the worsening headaches and hyperreflexia in the setting of positive coronavirus infection testing and upper respiratory symptoms, further complicating the diagnosis.