A 62-year-old man presents to the emergency department because of new symptoms of fevers, chills, and malaise. His past medical history is significant for a prosthetic aortic valve replacement 5 years ago because of aortic stenosis from a bicuspid valve.On physical examination, the blood pressure is 130/85 mm Hg, heart rate is 88/min, and temperature 38.5degC. He has a 2/6 systolic ejection murmur heard best at the aortic region and a mechanical second heart sound, but no other abnormalities on examination. Blood cultures are most likely to grow which of the following?
S. epidermidis is still the most frequent early and late cause of endocarditis in patients with prosthetic heart valves. The other organisms are seen less frequently in late prosthetic valve endocarditis.
fungi
bartonella
diphtheroid
Staphylococcus epidermidis
C.V.S.