A patient presents with systemic embolic events 1 month after uncomplicated mitral valve replacement. He has been febrile for the past week. TEE demonstrates multiple echodensities on the valve ring. Blood cultures that are drawn are most likely to grow which of the following?
Staphylococcus epidermidis. This patient presents with early prosthetic valve endocarditis (within 2 months of surgery). This is usually acquired during the operation, and the skin species Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most frequent pathogen encountered. Late prosthetic valve endocarditis is similar to native valve endocarditis in terms of the spectrum of pathogens involved.
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