Infectious Disease Reports · Published 2026-04-08 · DOI 10.3390/idr18020032
Background: The genus <i>Brucella</i> has expanded considerably in the 21st century. With the advent of advanced phylogenetic analyses, a close genetic relationship between <i>Brucella</i> and <i>Ochrobactrum</i> has been identified, leading to reclassification of <i>Ochrobactrum</i> species within the genus <i>Brucella</i>. Among these, <i>Brucella anthropi</i> (formerly <i>Ochrobactrum anthropi</i>) is increasingly recognized as a rare cause of invasive human infection. We report a clinically significant case of <i>B. anthropi</i> infective endocarditis and review the available literature. Methods: We report a case of <i>B. anthropi</i> infective endocarditis and conducted a narrative review of the English-language medical literature through 2025. Cases were analyzed for demographics, clinical presentation, antimicrobial susceptibility, and outcomes. Results: A 75-year-old man with a prosthetic aortic valve and prior endocarditis presented with fever of unknown origin, weight loss, and prior transient ischemic attacks. Blood cultures grew <i>B. anthropi</i> after prolonged incubation. Transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated vegetations involving both the aortic and tricuspid valves, and the patient required targeted combination antimicrobial therapy due to persistent bacteremia. Seven additional cases of <i>B. anthropi</i> infective endocarditis were identified on review of the literature. Most patients had underlying valvular disease or prosthetic material. Reported lethality approached 25%. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were variable, underscoring the importance of targeted individualized therapy. Conclusion: Consistent with other Gram-negative bacilli, <i>B. anthropi</i> is a rare but established cause of acute bacterial endocarditis. Despite its rarity, it may represent an under-recognized cause of invasive disease. This case highlights the importance of prolonged culture incubation, careful microbiologic interpretation, and susceptibility-guided therapy.
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