Kingella kingae Endocarditis and Septic Pulmonary Emboli in a 12-Year-Old Male With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot and a Bioprosthetic Pulmonary Valve

Authors

Cyndee Jocson, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow
Steffan Sernich, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Patrick Nelson, Manning Family Children's, New Orleans, LA
Timothy Pettitt, LSU Health Sciences Center - New OrleansFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-20-2026

Publication Title

Case Reports in Cardiology

Abstract

Kingella kingae, typically known for causing osteoarticular infections in young children, is an emerging cause of infective endocarditis (IE) in older children with congenital heart disease. This report describes a 12-year-old with repaired tetralogy of Fallot and a bioprosthetic pulmonary valve who developed culture-negative IE due to K. kingae, confirmed by microbial cell-free DNA testing and valve tissue PCR. His course was complicated by septic pulmonary emboli, requiring valve replacement. The case highlights the role of molecular diagnostics in managing culture-negative IE and the need for timely surgical intervention in the presence of embolic complications.

First Page

1

Last Page

3

PubMed ID

41725644

Volume

2026

Recommended Citation

Jocson, Cyndee; Sernich, Steffan; Nelson, Patrick; and Pettitt, Timothy, "Kingella kingae Endocarditis and Septic Pulmonary Emboli in a 12-Year-Old Male With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot and a Bioprosthetic Pulmonary Valve" (2026). School of Medicine Faculty Publications. 4452.
https://digitalscholar.lsuhsc.edu/som_facpubs/4452
10.1155/cric/2583276