Lightning Flash Unveiling Bartonella Endocarditis: An Approach to Diagnosing and Managing Culture-Negative Infective Endocarditis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Culture-negative infective endocarditis (CNIE) poses diagnostic challenges owing to the absence of pathogen identification through standard blood cultures.

Case summary

A 43-year-old man who was lost to follow-up after recent myocardial infarction due to embolic event requiring balloon angioplasty presented with acute left-sided weakness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed embolic infarctions, and echocardiography identified large, mobile vegetations with moderately severe aortic regurgitation. Empiric antibiotics were started, and blood cultures were negative. The Penumbra Lightning Flash system was used for vacuum-assisted aspiration of vegetations under intracardiac echocardiography guidance. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of aspirated material ident

SUBMITTER: Habib MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12714533 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature