Austrian syndrome: A rare case report

Abstract

Austrian syndrome is a rare and fatal triad of pneumonia, meningitis and endocarditis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, with a mortality rate of 60%. We report a case of Austrian syndrome in a 59-year-old patient, with a history of arterial hypertension on angiotensin 2 receptor antagonist therapy for five years, chronic smoking at 20 packs per year and occasional enolism for fifteen years, presenting with prolonged fever associated with loss of consciousness with no respiratory or cardiac signs, in whom purulent bacterial meningitis with positive Gram stain, infective endocarditis with mitral and aortic localization and interstitial pneumopathy have been demonstrated with negative blood cultures. Although the mortality rate is very high, early management of Austrian syndrome can improve the patient's quality of life.