PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Endocarditis”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Current status of taxonomic groups of oral streptococci in endocarditis. Can virulence factors discriminate between endocarditis and non-endocarditis strains?

OBJECTIVE: Infective endocarditis is frequently caused by oral streptococci, especially Streptococcus sanguis. In this group, many strains have recently been reclassified on the basis of new taxonomic schemes. The purpose of this study was to classify oral streptococci from patients with infective endocarditis and, further, to assess the importance of specific virulence factors for the development of streptococcal endocarditis. METHODS: Twenty-eight previously identified and 10 new streptococcal isolates from infective endocarditis were classified according to Kilian et al (1989) and compared to 30 streptococcal isolates from the oral cavities of periodontal patients without endocarditis. Subsequently, surface hydrophobicity was assessed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, production of extracellular dextran was determined by precipitation, and non-specific proteolytic activity was evaluated by determination of hydrolysis of gelatin, and casein-precipitating activity. RESULTS: Eight streptococcal species were represented in the endocarditis isolates. Most strains were highly hydrophobic and none showed non-specific proteolytic activity. Dextran was produced with similar frequency in endocarditis and non-endocarditis isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that infective endocarditis may be caused by a variety of oral streptococcal species. The possible virulence factors investigated were found in the same proportions in endocarditis and non-endocarditis isolates, and thus did not seem to be crucial for development of endocarditis.

Journal Article↗

Enterococcal endocarditis: 107 cases from the international collaboration on endocarditis merged database.

PURPOSE: To describe clinical features and outcomes of enterococcal left-sided native valve endocarditis and to compare it to endocarditis caused by other pathogens. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients in the International Collaboration on Endocarditis-Merged Database were included if they had left-sided native valve endocarditis. Demographic characteristics, clinical features, and outcomes were analyzed. Multivariable analysis evaluated enterococcus as a predictor of mortality. RESULTS: Of 1285 patients with left-sided native valve endocarditis, 107 had enterococcal endocarditis. Enterococcal endocarditis was most frequently seen in elderly men, frequently involved the aortic valve, tended to produce heart failure rather than embolic events, and had relatively low short-term mortality. Compared to patients with non-enterococcal endocarditis, patients with enterococcal endocarditis had similar rates of nosocomial acquisition, heart failure, embolization, surgery, and mortality. Compared to patients with streptococcal endocarditis, patients with enterococcal endocarditis were more likely to be nosocomially acquired (9 of 59 [15%] vs 2 of 400 [1%]; P <.0001) and have heart failure (49 of 107 [46%] vs 234 of 666 [35%]; P = 0.03). Compared to patients with S. aureus endocarditis, patients with enterococcal endocarditis were less likely to embolize (28 of 107 [26%] vs 155 of 314 [49%]; P <.0001) and less likely to die (12 of 107 [11%] vs 83 of 313 [27%]; P = 0.001). Multivariable analysis of all patients with left-sided native valve endocarditis showed that enterococcal endocarditis was associated with lower mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.24 to 0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcal native valve endocarditis has a distinctive clinical picture with a good prognosis.

Aged↗

Surgical results for active endocarditis with prosthetic valve replacement: impact of culture-negative endocarditis on early and late outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis requires not only hemodynamic repair, but also special emphasis on the eradication of the infectious focus to prevent recurrence. This goal can be achieved by the combination of aggressive debridement of infective tissue and appropriate and adequate antibiotic treatment. We reviewed our experience with active endocarditis and identified factors determining early and late outcomes, particularly focusing on the factor of culture-negative endocarditis. METHODS: Sixty seven patients with clinical evidence of active endocarditis who underwent operation between 1991 and 2001 were evaluated. The aortic valve was infected in 28 (42%), the mitral valve in 23 (34%), and multiple valves in 16 (24%). Native valve endocarditis was present in 58 (87%) and prosthetic valve endocarditis in 9 (13%). Mean follow-up was 5.7 years (range, 0.2-11.5 years). RESULTS: Microorganisms were detected in 46 (69%): Staphylococcus aureus in 9 (13%), other staphylococci in 9 (13%), streptococcus species in 19 (28%), and others in 9 (28%), whereas 21 (31%) patients had culture-negative endocarditis. Operative mortality was 17.8% (12 patients). Reoperation was required in 8 (12%), while 3 late deaths (5.5% of hospital survivors) occurred. All events, including death, reoperation, periprosthetic leak, and recurrence of infection, occurred within 2 years after operation. Actuarial freedom from reoperation, late survival, and events at 5 years were 81.6, 76.4, and 68.6%, respectively. On multivariate analysis, no independent adverse predictor was detected for hospital death, whereas the following independent adverse predictors were identified: preoperative heart failure (P=0.0375), prosthetic valve endocarditis (P=0.0391) and culture-negative endocarditis (P=0.0354) for poor late survival; culture-negative endocarditis (P=0.0354) and annular abscess (P=0066) for poor event-free survival. Freedom from events was similar between patients with Staphylococcus aureus infection (3-year freedom 55.6%) and culture-negative endocarditis (3-year freedom 47.6%), whereas events were significantly low in patients with streptococcus infection (3-year freedom 100%). CONCLUSIONS: In our analysis, no independent adverse predictor was detected for hospital death; however, culture-negative endocarditis was identified as an independent predictor for both late survival and events after surgery. Event-free survivals were similar between staphylococcus infection and culture-negative endocarditis, and all events occurred within 2 years after operation, suggesting the necessity of close follow-up during that period.

Adolescent↗

Modification of the diagnostic criteria proposed by the Duke Endocarditis Service to permit improved diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Q fever endocarditis is a life-threatening disease for which the diagnosis is usually based on serology. The major microbiologic criterion for the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis (two separate positive blood cultures) cannot be achieved in most routine laboratories because of the biohazard associated with the culture of Coxiella burnetii, the etiological agent of Q fever. PURPOSE: Recently, new criteria for the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis have been proposed, and in this study we attempted to assess the suitability of these criteria specifically for the diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To achieve this aim, we first selected from our series 20 recent cases in whom endocarditis had been confirmed following valvular pathological examination, and for whom microbiological evidence for the involvement of C burnetii was available. Then, we applied the criteria proposed by the Duke Endocarditis Service (ie, C burnetii positive serology being considered a minor criterion) to this cohort of patients but excluding pathological findings. Although the Duke Endocarditis Service criteria confirmed diagnosis in 16 of the patients, 4 were misclassified as "possible" cases (20%). However, when the Q fever serological results (using an 1/800 antiphase I immunoglobulin G cut off) and single blood culture results were changed from minor to major diagnostic criteria, endocarditis was confirmed in them all. A second time, prospectively, we applied the Duke Endocarditis Service criteria to a further 5 patients affected with Q fever endocarditis. Strict application of these criteria resulted in 1 of the 5 being misdiagnosed. Applying the suggested modification for C burnetii results, all 5 were confirmed as having infectious endocarditis. CONCLUSION: We propose that the modifications discussed in this study be applied to the Duke Endocarditis Service criteria in order that the diagnosis of C burnetii induced endocarditis is improved.

Coxiella burnetii↗

Infective endocarditis: diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, and management of complications: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Councils on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke, and Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, American Heart Association: endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in medical, surgical, and critical care interventions, infective endocarditis remains a disease that is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. The continuing evolution of antimicrobial resistance among common pathogens that cause infective endocarditis creates additional therapeutic issues for physicians to manage in this potentially life-threatening illness. METHODS AND RESULTS: This work represents the third iteration of an infective endocarditis "treatment" document developed by the American Heart Association under the auspices of the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease of the Young. It updates recommendations for diagnosis, treatment, and management of complications of infective endocarditis. A multidisciplinary committee of experts drafted this document to assist physicians in the evolving care of patients with infective endocarditis in the new millennium. This extensive document is accompanied by an executive summary that covers the key points of the diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, and management of infective endocarditis. For the first time, an evidence-based scoring system that is used by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association was applied to treatment recommendations. Tables also have been included that provide input on the use of echocardiography during diagnosis and treatment of infective endocarditis, evaluation and treatment of culture-negative endocarditis, and short-term and long-term management of patients during and after completion of antimicrobial treatment. To assist physicians who care for children, pediatric dosing was added to each treatment regimen. CONCLUSIONS: The recommendations outlined in this update should assist physicians in all aspects of patient care in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment, and follow-up of infective endocarditis, as well as management of associated complications. Clinical variability and complexity in infective endocarditis, however, dictate that these guidelines be used to support and not supplant physician-directed decisions in individual patient management.

Ambulatory Care↗

Eustachian valve endocarditis: a rare localization of right side endocarditis. A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Right-sided endocarditis occurs predominantly in intravenous drug users, in patients with pacemaker or central venous lines and in patients with congenital heart disease. The vast majority of cases involve the tricuspid valve. Eustachian valve endocarditis is an uncommon disease with similar signs and symptoms of the tricuspid valve endocarditis. A series of only 16 cases of eustachian valve endocarditis are reported in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of a 25-year old woman with intravenous drug abuse who had a staphylococcus aureus tricuspid valve endocarditis associated to eustachian valve endocarditis. Transthoracic echocardiography, as first line examination, showed the vegetations on tricuspid and eustachian valve. CONCLUSION: Our case describe an unusual location of right side endocarditis in a intravenous drug abuser. In our case, in accord with other cases described in the literature, transthoracic echocardiography disclosed eustachian valve endocarditis. Antimicrobial management is not altered by the recognition of eustachian valve endocarditis. Antibiotic treatment and duration of eustachian endocarditis depends on the isolated organism and is similar to antibiotic therapy used in native valve endocarditis.

Adult↗

Whipple's endocarditis: review of the literature and comparisons with Q fever, Bartonella infection, and blood culture-positive endocarditis.

Whipple's disease is a systemic infection sometimes associated with cardiac manifestations. Recently, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of Whipple's endocarditis. The purpose of our study was to describe this entity. Data from 35 well-described cases of Whipple's endocarditis were collected and compared with those of blood culture-positive endocarditis, Q fever endocarditis, and Bartonella endocarditis. Some patients with generalized Whipple's disease presented with cardiac involvement, among other symptoms. Others presented with a nonspecific, blood culture-negative endocarditis with no associated symptoms. In comparison with cases of endocarditis due to other causes, congestive heart failure, fever, and previous valvular disease were less frequently observed in the cases of Whipple's endocarditis. Without examination of the excised valves, the diagnosis of infective endocarditis could not have been confirmed in most cases. Treatment is not well established. Whipple's endocarditis is a specific entity involving minor inflammatory reactions and negative blood cultures, and its incidence is probably underestimated.

Adult↗

Emergence of endocarditis due to group D streptococci: findings derived from the merged database of the International Collaboration on Endocarditis.

The aim of the present study was to compare the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Streptococcus bovis endocarditis with those of endocarditis caused by oral streptococci, using data obtained from a large international database of uniformly defined cases of infective endocarditis. S. bovis, a well-known cause of infective endocarditis, remains the common name used to designate group D nonenterococcal streptococci. In some countries, the frequency of S. bovis endocarditis has increased significantly in recent years. Data from the International Collaboration on Endocarditis merged database was used to identify the main characteristics of S. bovis endocarditis and compared them with those of infective endocarditis (IE) due to oral streptococci. The database contained 136 cases of S. bovis IE and 511 cases of IE due to oral streptococci. Patients with S. bovis IE were significantly older those with IE due to oral streptococci (63+/-16 vs. 55+/-18 years, P<0.00001). The proportion of streptococcal IE due to S. bovis increased from 10.9% before 1989 to 23.3% after 1989 (P=0.0007) and was 56.7% in France as compared with 9.4% in the rest of Europe and 6.0% in the USA (P<0.00001). Patients with S. bovis IE had more comorbidity and never used intravenous drugs. Complication rates, rates of valve replacement, and mortality rates were similar in the two groups. In conclusion, this study confirmed that S. bovis IE has unique characteristics when compared to endocarditis due to oral streptococci and that it emerged in the 1990s, mainly in France, a finding that is yet unexplained.

Adult↗

Infective endocarditis and mitral prolapse: a comparison with other types of endocarditis.

We compared clinical features, response to therapy, and outcome of infective endocarditis in ten patients with mitral valve prolapse and 23 patients with endocarditis involving other types of left-sided valvular lesions. Signs of endocarditis were more subtle in patients with mitral valve prolapse, and antimicrobial therapy was instituted later in those patients. Nevertheless, nine of ten patients with mitral valve prolapse and endocarditis responded optimally to antimicrobials; only five of 23 patients with other types of endocarditis responded similarly. Four patients with mitral valve prolapse experienced increasing valvular dysfunction during the year after treatment of endocarditis; one died. We conclude that endocarditis in patients with mitral valve prolapse is more responsive to antimicrobial therapy even though recognition of the infection often is delayed. However, mitral valve prolapse endocarditis is not a benign infection, because progressive valvular dysfunction is a frequent sequel.

Adolescent↗

[Surgical treatment of active infective endocarditis and prosthetic valve endocarditis].

Fifteen patients with active native valve endocarditis (NVE) and 5 with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) were subjected to this study. Among the patients with NVE, one of 10 with simple destruction of leaflets and 2 of 5 with annular infection died postoperatively of cerebral bleeding and persistent infection. Five patients with annular infection, whose microorganisms were Streptococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and gram-negative coccus, had a shorter duration from onset to operation (mean 38 days) compared with the others (mean 85 days). A patient with NVE requires an urgent operation, especially when these microorganisms are identified. Among those with PVE, 3 underwent operation at the active phase and one at the chronic phase. Two patients with mechanical valve endocarditis by Staphylococcus and Candida died, but the other 2 with bioprosthetic valve endocarditis by alpha-Streptococcus survived, because infection was localized in the leaflets. Another patient with mechanical valve endocarditis by alpha-Streptococcus survived with conservative management. While a patient with bioprosthetic valve endocarditis requires an early operation as well as NVE, a patient with mechanical valve endocarditis requires selected management considering the microorganism and general condition.

Adult↗

Latent infective endocarditis: epidemiology and clinical characteristics of patients with unsuspected endocarditis detected after elective valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of infective endocarditis is usually made on the basis of clinical and laboratory criteria and may be confirmed by histologic examination or culture of excised valves. We tried to determine the incidence and significance of inflammatory changes in valves excised during operations for reasons other than infective endocarditis. METHODS: The charts and histopathology of all patients undergoing valve replacement during a 10-year period (1993-2002) were reviewed. A total of 868 patients underwent a total of 970 valve replacements during this period, of whom 11 patients (1.3%) were for endocarditis, with the remaining 857 (98.7%) for other indications. All excised valves were cultured and examined histologically for the presence of inflammatory infiltrates, vegetations, and microorganisms. RESULTS: In 8 of 857 patients (0.9%), the histologic examination unexpectedly demonstrated an infiltrate suggestive of endocarditis. Blood and valve cultures, and serologic tests for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Legionella, Q fever, Brucella, Rickettsiae, VDRL, and Bartonella were negative in all but 1 patient, who was found to have Q fever. All received a prolonged course of antibiotics. Six patients had an uneventful recovery; 1 had intramyocardial abscesses and expired during cardiac reoperation; and 1 had recurrent fever and dehiscence of the aortic and mitral valve prostheses and after two cardiac reoperations remains in severe heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of an unexpected inflammatory infiltrate in heart valves excised for reasons other than endocarditis may occur in 0.9% of such operations; these infiltrates could indicate presence of endocarditis. A microbial origin should be sought, and patients should receive empiric antibiotic treatment for endocarditis.

Adolescent↗

Surgical treatment of infective endocarditis with special reference to prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Patients with native valve endocarditis treated surgically between 1968 and 1978 (n = 15) and all patients presenting with prosthetic valve endocarditis during this period (n = 21) were followed up for at least four years. Five of the patients with native valve endocarditis required urgent early surgical intervention, of whom two died. The remaining 10 underwent valve replacement after a course of antibiotic treatment: all survived, though one required further valve replacement. The 21 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis suffered 25 attacks. Nine were cured by medical treatment alone; two died before surgical intervention was possible; 11 required valve replacement, of whom three died; and two required valve replacement after a course of antibiotic treatment. The incidence of early prosthetic valve endocarditis--that occurring within two months of operation--was 0.67%, but that of late prosthetic valve endocarditis could not be determined. Medical treatment when started early should cure endocarditis in most patients, but vigilance should be maintained for the appearance of indications for surgery. When such indications exist surgery should not be delayed.

Adult↗

Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to coagulase-negative staphylococci: findings from the International Collaboration on Endocarditis Merged Database.

Infective endocarditis due to coagulase-negative staphylococci is increasingly recognized as a difficult-to-treat disease associated with poor outcome. The aim of this report is to describe the characteristics and outcome of patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) due to coagulase-negative staphylococci versus those of patients with PVE due to Staphylococcus aureus and viridans streptococci. Patients were identified through the International Collaboration on Endocarditis Merged Database. A total of 54 cases of coagulase-negative staphylococci PVE, 58 cases of S. aureus PVE, and 63 cases of viridans-streptococci-related PVE were available for analysis. There was no difference between the three groups with respect to the type of valve involved or the rate of embolization. However, heart failure was encountered more frequently with coagulase-negative staphylococci (54%) than with either S. aureus (33%; p=0.03) or viridans streptococci (32%; p=0.02). In addition, valvular abscesses complicated 39% of infections due to coagulase-negative staphylococci compared with 22% of those due to S. aureus (p=0.06) and 6% of those due to viridans streptococci (p<0.001). Mortality was highest in patients with S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococcal endocarditis (47 and 36%, respectively; p=0.22) and was considerably lower in patients with viridans streptococcal endocarditis (p=0.002 compared to patients with coagulase-negative staphylococcal endocarditis). The results of this analysis demonstrate the aggressive nature of coagulase-negative staphylococcal PVE and the substantially greater morbidity and mortality associated with this infection compared to PVE caused by other pathogens.

Aged↗

[Infectious endocarditis: morbi-mortality in Chile. Results of the National Cooperative Study of Infective Endocarditis (1998-2002)].

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis is a severe condition, with a mortality that fluctuates between 16 and 25% in the Metropolitan area of Chile. AIM: To perform a prospective assessment of clinical and microbiological features of patients with infective endocarditis in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Collaborative study of regional hospitals in the whole country and teaching hospitals in Santiago. Patients with a possible or definitive infective endocarditis, according to Duke's criteria, were included in the protocol and a structured data entry form was completed. RESULTS: Three hundred twenty one patients (65% male, mean age 49 +/- 16.5 years) were studied. According Duke's criteria, 89% had a definitive and 11% a possible endocarditis. The subacute form occurred in 64% of patients. The most frequent predisposing cardiopathies were rheumatic in 25%, prosthetic valves in 15% and congenital in 13%. There was no evidence of cardiopathy in 20%. Twenty percent of patients were on hemodialysis, 11% were diabetic and only one patient abused intravenous drugs. The most frequent complication was cardiac failure in 59% of cases, followed by renal failure in 32% and embolism in 28%. The most frequent causing organism was coagulase positive Staphylococcus in 35%. Blood cultures were negative in 28% of cases from the metropolitan region, in 56% of cases from the north and 38% of cases from the south. Echocardiographic diagnosis was done in 92% of cases. Aortic valve was involved in 42% and mitral valve in 29%. Successful antimicrobial treatment was achieved in 59% of patients. Thirty five percent of patients were subjected to surgical procedures with a 78% survival. Overall mortality was 29%. Univariate analysis identified sepsis, an age over 60 years and the presence of cardiac or renal failure as prognostic indicators of mortality. On multivariate analysis, the identified prognostic indicators were the presence of sepsis, renal failure, mitroaortic involvement associated to combined surgery and failure of antimicrobial treatment not associated to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Subacute form is the most common presentation of infective endocarditis and rheumatic valve disease is the most common underlying cardiac lesion. Intravenous drugs users infective endocarditis is exceptional in Chile. The most frequent causing agent is coagulase positive Staphylococcus and the most frequent complication is cardiac failure. Surgical and overall mortality were 22 and 29% respectively. Sepsis, renal failure, combined surgical procedures, failure of medical treatment were identified as prognostic indicators of mortality.

Adolescent↗