Endocarditis associated with contamination of cardiovascular bioprostheses with Mycobacterium chelonae: a collaborative microbiological study

Mycobacterium chelonae is a rare cause of infective endocarditis that is difficult to diagnose and treat. After we found M chelonae in a series of patients, we aimed to investigate its role in cardiovascular prosthesis dysfunction and contamination of bioprostheses as a possible cause of infection.