Mycotic Aneurysm Case Study

Mycotic aneurysm, described first by Osler, result from septic embolization or bacteremia, from a distant source of infection. 1
The prevalence of mycotic aneurysms is not clearly known. Around 25 to 50 percent of patients are estimated to have septic emboli, but related symptoms are expected in only 1 to 5 percent of cases. 2 Complete resolution with antibiotic therapy for bacterial endocarditis is rare and surgical intervention is warranted in most cases. 3, 4, 5

Here we present a case of 44 year-old man with infective endocarditis secondary to IV drug abuse who developed a mycotic aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) that completely resolved with medical treatment without the need for surgical intervention.