Thoracic Osteomyelitis and Eustachian Valve Endocarditis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Infective endocarditis and vertebral osteomyelitis are rare infections, most commonly caused by methicillinsensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The eustachian valve is an embryological remnant of the inferior vena cava that has the potential to harbor a nidus leading to infective endocarditis. Eustachian valve endocarditis has been documented in the literature on less than 50 occasions and has yet to be documented in the presence of concomitant vertebral osteomyelitis. In this case, we present a 43-year-old male presenting with vertebral osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Persistent bacteremia prompted the identification of vegetative growth on a eustachian valve remnant. This case helps mend the gap in the literature by documenting the treatment considerations in a patient with eustachian valve endocarditis in the presence of osteomyelitis caused by MRSA.