Diagnostic Dilemma: Infective Endocarditis in the Setting of an Esophageal Abscess

Emad Elmusa; Ahmad Muneeb; Muhammad Waleed Raza; Hassan Tahir Khokhar; Nilmarie Guzman

doi:10.7759/cureus.47542

Diagnostic Dilemma: Infective Endocarditis in the Setting of an Esophageal Abscess

Cureus. 2023 Oct 23;15(10):e47542. doi: 10.7759/cureus.47542. eCollection 2023 Oct.

Authors

Emad Elmusa¹, Ahmad Muneeb¹, Muhammad Waleed Raza¹, Hassan Tahir Khokhar¹, Nilmarie Guzman²

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, Orange Park, USA.
² Infectious Disease, HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital, Orange Park, USA.

Abstract

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the preferred imaging modality to diagnose infective endocarditis (IE). However, esophageal disease can preclude performing a TEE. We present such a scenario. A patient with an esophageal abscess, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia, and septic pulmonary emboli with suspicion for IE based on the modified Duke criteria. However, due to the patient's esophageal abscess, TEE could not be performed safely. We present this case to demonstrate a rare scenario in which a patient with an esophageal abscess also had presumed IE.

Keywords: esophageal abscess; infective endocarditis; mssa bacteremia; septic emboli; transesophageal echocardiography (tee).

Publication types

Case Reports