Infective Endocarditis Caused by an Indigenous Bacterium (Gemella morbillorum)

A case of infective endocarditis (IE) caused by a rare pathogen, Gemella morbillorum, is presented. Because of persistent low-grade fever after dental treatment, the patient was given oral antibiotics. Whereas he was diagnosed as having aortic regurgitation by a cardiologist, and IE was not suggested unfortunately. After long-term chemotherapy over five months, he was aware of nocturnal dyspnea and Gemella morbillorum was detected by blood culture. Then, he was treated with intravenous administration of Penicillin-G, and underwent surgical operation for valve replacement. No cases of IE due to this organism have been reported in Japan.(Internal Medicine 33: 628-631, 1994)