An excluded diagnosis

Abstract

We describe a 50-years-old patient with septic fever of unidentifiable source, following resection for rectal adenocarcinoma. He has been in treatment for sepsi two months before. Blood coltures, an accurate amanestic analysis and a transesophageal echocardiography were the major tools for the diagnosis of this disease. After the diagnosis of infective endocarditis had been excluded, antibiotic treatment (with teicoplanin and rifampicine) was given for the presence of Staphylococcus epidermidis. The previous pacemaker system was removed and a DDD pacemaker was implanted.