Cardiac Manifestations of Q Fever Infection: Case Series and a Review of the Literature

Background Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii, an uncommon intracellular bacterium found in livestock and domesticated dogs and cats. A minority of patients who acquire acute Q fever will subsequently develop chronic Q fever endocarditis, which often manifests in valvular insufficiency. Method We review recent literature and report the clinical presentation, treatment, and serology of three surgical patients with Q fever. Results and Conclusion Three patients with Q fever were successfully treated at our institution, including the first known case of a C. burnetii infection manifesting in a pediatric patient with isolated aortic coarctation. doi: 10.1111/jocs.12098 (J Card Surg 2013;28:233–237)