Before his hospital admission, Mr. Tuat experienced high fevers for half a month. Despite medication, his temperature frequently spiked above 38,5 degrees Celsius, accompanied by chills, dizziness, headaches, and extreme fatigue. Initially diagnosed with pneumonia, he was prescribed antibiotics and pain relievers. After 10 days, his fever subsided, he felt less tired, and was discharged. However, two days later, his high fever returned with a dull ache in his left chest and headaches, prompting an emergency visit to Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

Upon admission, Mr. Tuat was severely debilitated, with blood pressure at 80/55 mmHg and an unyielding high fever. Doctor Tran Vu Minh Thu, Head of Internal Cardiology Department 2 at the Cardiovascular Center, noted his emaciated state, resembling "skin and bones," due to not eating for half a month. Mr. Tuat was in critical condition as Staphylococcus bacteria had invaded his blood, brain, and heart, causing septic shock and Staphylococcus infective endocarditis. Cases like Mr. Tuat's, involving multi-organ damage from this bacteria, can have a mortality rate exceeding 20%.

Staphylococcus are gram-positive cocci, approximately one micrometer in diameter, typically clustering together like grapes. They primarily reside on the skin and mucous membranes, usually causing no disease or only mild skin infections. However, if these bacteria penetrate deeper into the bloodstream, joints, lungs, or heart, they can lead to severe, life-threatening infections.

In Mr. Tuat's case, the Staphylococcus bacteria attacked his heart valves, causing infective endocarditis—a condition where heart valves are damaged by bacteria—and forming vegetation on his heart. Furthermore, the bacteria invaded his brain, leading to cerebral hemorrhage.

Doctor Ngoc checks on the patient before his discharge. Photo: Trung Vu

Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc, from the Internal Cardiology Department at the Cardiovascular Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, HCMC, initiated antibiotic treatment. On the third day of medication, Mr. Tuat experienced a significant side effect: granulocytopenia, a condition where the number of granulocytes in the blood falls below normal levels, severely impacting the body's immune capacity. Doctor Ngoc stated, "If the patient contracted another type of bacteria, no treatment regimen would be effective, and we wouldn't be able to save him."

The medical team, in consultation with Doctor Pham Nguyen Vinh, Director of the Cardiovascular Center, decided to administer two doses of bone marrow stimulating medication and switch to a different antibiotic. 10 days after admission, Mr. Tuat's fever subsided, and he regained his appetite.

Doctors then focused on managing the vegetation on his mitral valve. Without surgical removal, this vegetation could break off and travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, causing blockages. However, a CT scan of his brain revealed that the cerebral infarction had progressed to subarachnoid hemorrhage in the right frontal lobe and bilateral parietal regions. Mr. Tuat's current condition made him too weak to undergo surgery.

Doctor Thu explained that mitral valve repair surgery requires the use of anticoagulants. Given Mr. Tuat's subarachnoid hemorrhage, these medications could cause massive bleeding in the brain, posing a high risk of death. The team postponed the surgery, continuing with medical treatment. After four weeks, his condition stabilized, allowing doctors to surgically remove the vegetation and repair his mitral valve.

Mr. Tuat's health improved daily after the bacterial infection in his heart was eradicated. His body temperature returned to normal, his headaches and chest pain disappeared, and his appetite returned. He began walking and resuming normal activities, finally discharged after 45 days of treatment.

Staphylococcus bacteria are ubiquitous in the natural environment and can cause human infections at any time. Currently, there is no specific vaccine to prevent diseases caused by Staphylococcus. Doctors recommend preventing bacterial invasion by maintaining personal hygiene, washing hands properly, brushing teeth, and rinsing the mouth with physiological saline solution. Avoid sharing personal items such as razors, towels, and clothes to prevent the spread of bacteria from one person to another.

For individuals in high-risk groups, doctors may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics before dental procedures or cardiovascular interventions. Maintaining hygiene, treating infections early, and adhering to medical advice are simple yet effective ways to protect the heart from dangerous complications.

Thu Ha