The protean manifestations of bacterial endocarditis and septicemia are generally well appreciated. However, there has been little recent emphasis on the neurologic manifestations and, in particular, on the results of antimicrobial therapy for these abnormalities.
A series of 386 cases with positive blood cultures appropriate heart murmurs, and multisystem involvement were reviewed. About one third (111 cases) had neurologic abnormalities, which were divided into the following categories: [1] cerebrovascular abnormalities (cerebral infarct, cerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage); [2] toxic encephalopathy; [3] meningitis; [4] convulsive disorder; [5] headache; [6] neuropathy; [7] retinal abnormalities; and [8] miscellaneous (movement disorder, myopathy).
Streptococcus viridans (50%)