Infectious Endocarditis Due to Non-typhi Salmonella in Patients Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Report of Two Cases and Review

Endocarditis is not usually considered a complication of AIDS. Because salmonellal bacteremia is common in HIV-infected patients and because salmonellae have a propensity to adhere to endothelial cells, these patients are at risk of endocarditis and endarteritis. We report two cases of endocarditis due to Salmonella enteritidis and review three previously reported cases. All five patients had underlying heart valve disease and developed fever, breakthrough or relapsing bacteremia, heart murmurs, and cardiac failure; four of five patients were older than 45 years. One patient died, but the other four were successfully treated with beta-lactam agents alone or in combination with aminoglycosides or with ofloxacin (valve replacement was not required). As AIDS patients get older, the number of cases of endocarditis or endarteritis due to Salmonella species may increase, particularly in geographic areas where Salmonella species are prevalent.