Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and a right atrial mass in a patient with a central venous line

A male heroin abuser was admitted because of Candida endophthalmitis. A permanent central venous line was inserted. Three months later, he had positive catheter and blood cultures with Staphylococcus aureus. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance revealed a right atrial mass. Treatment with antibiotics in addition to clinical and echocardiographic follow up was decided upon. Six weeks later, a transesophageal echocardiography showed a decrease in right atrial mass size and the patient was discharged asymptomatic without treatment. Three months later, he was well. and a new transesophageal ecocardiography showed a further decrease in atrial mass size with signs of fibrosis. This follow up supports the clinical suspicion of thrombus in the right atrium attributable to a central venous line and Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.