Multivalvular bacterial endocarditis after suction curettage abortion

BACKGROUND: Bacterial endocarditis is a potentially life-threatening disease associated with significant morbidity and mortality. It is estimated that one patient per 1 million will develop endocarditis after elective abortion. CASE: A young woman with no history of cardiac defects developed acute bacterial endocarditis after elective abortion performed without appropriately timed antibiotic prophylaxis. She subsequently required surgical debridement of the tricuspid valve and replacement of the aortic valve. She experienced numerous postoperative sequelae eventually culminating in death. CONCLUSION: Although rare, it is possible to develop multivalvular, right-sided and left-sided endocarditis after elective pregnancy termination in a patient without preexisting cardiac disease. This patient should have received antibiotic prophylaxis before initiation of the suction curettage.