Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ENDOCARDITIS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

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

At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources

Outbreak of endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype O11 among pentazocine and tripelennamine abusers in Chicago.

At Cook County Hospital (Chicago), before 1977, the incidence of endocarditis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was one or two cases per year. The frequency of P. aeruginosa as an etiologic agent of endocarditis among drug abusers increased steadily from five (23%) of 22 patients in 1977 to 15 (68%) of 22 in 1980. P. aeruginosa serotype O11 accounted for 34 (76%) of 42 of the strains serotyped. The total increase in incidence of P. aeruginosa endocarditis that we observed can be attributed to disease caused by serotype O11. We serotyped 152 strains of P. aeruginosa obtained from hospital inpatients without endocarditis. Serotype O11 was the most frequently isolated type, accounting for 27% of the total. Incidence of serotype O11 in drug addicts with endocarditis is significantly higher than the incidence in patients with nonendocarditis infections (chi 2 = 32.89; P less than .001). There was a high degree of correlation between pentazocine and tripelennamine ("T's and Blues") abuse and endocarditis caused by P. aeruginosa (chi 2 = 36.71; P less than .001).

Chicago↗

Diagnosing Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis by detecting antibodies against S. aureus capsular polysaccharide types 5 and 8.

Consecutive serum samples from patients with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis or septicemia or non-S. aureus endocarditis and febrile nonsepticemic controls were tested for antibodies against S. aureus capsular polysaccharide (CP) types 5 and 8 by ELISA. The upper normal antibody levels were defined as the upper 99.5% confidence limits of the values from the febrile controls. All available patient isolates were tested for the presence of CP type 5 or 8 (85% of the isolates expressed either serotype), and all five patients with S. aureus endocarditis had positive antibody levels against the corresponding serotype within the first 10 days of infection. Three other endocarditis patients lacked isolates for CP testing but two of these were positive. Positive antibody levels were found in 0 of 28 septicemia patients, in 1 of 12 non-S. aureus endocarditis patients, and in 3 of 37 febrile controls. Thus, testing for anti-CP 5 or 8 antibodies, especially together with CP serotyping of the patient's isolate, seems to provide important information in the differential diagnosis of endocarditis in patients with S. aureus septicemia.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Antimicrobial therapy of streptococcal endocarditis.

The majority of patients with endocarditis caused by viridans streptococci or Streptococcus bovis susceptible to less than or equal to 0.1 mg/l of penicillin may be treated successfully for two weeks with penicillin 20 X 10(6) million units intravenously together with streptomycin 7.5 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly twice daily or gentamicin 1 mg/kg body weight intravenously every 8 h. Patients with nutritionally variant viridans streptococcal endocarditis should be treated for four weeks with penicillin combined with an aminoglycoside in dosages as above, which will require adjustment when renal impairment is present. Patients with enterococcal endocarditis should be treated with penicillin together with an aminoglycoside in dosages as above for four to six weeks. Patient with enterococcal endocarditis with symptoms of infection less than three months in duration or with aortic valve endocarditis may be treated successfully for four weeks with antimicrobial therapy; patients with symptoms of infection longer than three months in duration or with mitral valve infection should receive six weeks of antimicrobial therapy. Patients with enterococcal endocarditis who relapse should be treated for six weeks of antimicrobial therapy.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗

The role of aminoglycosides in combination with a beta-lactam for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis: a meta-analysis of comparative trials.

BACKGROUND: The addition of an aminoglycoside to a beta-lactam for the treatment of patients with infective endocarditis has been supported by data from laboratory and animal studies. PURPOSE: We sought to review the evidence from the available comparative clinical trials regarding the role of aminoglycosides in combination with a beta-lactam for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis caused by Gram-positive cocci. DATA SOURCES: The studies for our meta-analysis were retrieved from searches of the PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, as well as from the references cited in relevant articles. No limits were set regarding the language and date of publication of the studies. STUDY SELECTION: Included studies were prospective studies that provided comparative data regarding the effectiveness of the treatment and/or mortality in patients receiving monotherapy with a beta-lactam or beta-lactam/aminoglycoside combination therapy. DATA EXTRACTION: Two independent reviewers performed the literature search, study selection and extraction of data from relevant studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: No clinical trial comparing beta-lactam monotherapy with beta-lactam/aminoglycoside combination therapy for the treatment of enterococcal endocarditis was found. We performed a meta-analysis of five available comparative trials [four randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one comparative prospective trial], which included 261 patients with bacterial endocarditis in native valves due to Staphylococcus aureus (four studies) or streptococci of the viridans group (one study). There was no statistically significant difference between beta-lactam monotherapy and beta-lactam/aminoglycoside combination therapy regarding mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 0.59, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.21-1.66], treatment success (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.49-3.05), treatment success without surgery (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 0.64-4.30) or relapse of endocarditis (OR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.15-4.29). Nephrotoxicity was less common in the beta-lactam monotherapy arm than in the beta-lactam/aminoglycoside combination therapy arm (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.16-0.88, P = 0.024). No difference between the two treatment arms was found in subanalyses of the four studies that included only patients with staphylococcal infections in terms of mortality (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.26-1.86, fixed effects model), treatment success (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 0.47-3.43, fixed effects model) or relapse (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.12-4.92, fixed effects model). LIMITATIONS: The relatively small number of available comparative trials was the major limitation of this meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The limited evidence from the available prospective comparative studies does not offer support for the addition of an aminoglycoside to beta-lactam treatment of patients with endocarditis caused by Gram-positive cocci. A large multicentre RCT is necessary to reach a definitive conclusion on this issue.

Aminoglycosides↗

New diagnostic criteria for infective endocarditis. A study of sensitivity and specificity.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of new criteria proposed by Duke University for case definition of infective endocarditis as compared to the previously accepted Von Reyn criteria. PATIENTS: A total of 143 consecutive suspected cases of infective endocarditis in 137 febrile patients were included. Of these, 69 had infective endocarditis, pathologically proven in 28, but with only a clinical diagnosis in 41. In the remaining 74 cases, the diagnosis of infective endocarditis was rejected after a follow-up of at least 3 months. RESULTS: The sensitivity of Duke's criteria was significantly higher, both when patients with possible infective endocarditis were considered as true-positive (definition 1; 100% vs 69%, P < 0.001) and when possible cases were considered as rejected (definition 2; 76% vs 51%, P < 0.01). Specificity was very high with both criteria: 92% Von Reyn vs 88% Duke (ns) with definition 1 and 99% Von Reyn vs 97% Duke (ns) with definition 2. The overall accuracy of the Duke criteria in the entire population was significantly higher with both definitions (0.94 vs 0.81 definition 1, P < 0.001; 0.87 vs 0.75, P = 0.015 definition 2). CONCLUSION: Duke's criteria for defining infective endocarditis has been shown to be more sensitive than previously adopted criteria, while maintaining a high degree of specificity. Therefore, they must be accepted as a substitute for previous criteria.

Adolescent↗

Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis: The Grady Memorial Hospital Experience.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of endocarditis. Previous studies have shown that the mortality rate associated with S aureus endocarditis remains high, and methicillin resistance is becoming more prevalent. METHODS: Over the past 4 years, 283 patients with suspected endocarditis were referred to the cardiology department of Grady Memorial Hospital for echocardiography. Their clinical course and demographic information was entered into a database. Among these patients, 87 (30.6%) were confirmed to have endocarditis, with 41 (47.1%) of them culture positive for either methicillin-resistant (MRSA) or methicillin-sensitive S aureus (MSSA). Of these patients, 14 were MRSA culture positive, and 27 were MSSA culture positive. These two groups were compared with respect to demographic information and morbidity and mortality outcomes. RESULTS: The MRSA and MSSA groups were found to be similar upon analysis in all baseline characteristics. There was a non-statistical trend among the two groups in origin of infection, as the MRSA group tended toward nosocomial infection more often. Outcomes, including surgery, death, and complications were also found to be similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: There does not seem to be difference in the outcome of MRSA versus MSSA endocarditis. Nosocomial infection may predispose patients to MRSA endocarditis, but a larger study with a greater sample size is necessary to evaluate these questions more accurately.

Community-Acquired Infections↗

Spondylodiscitis and infective endocarditis: case studies and review of the literature.

STUDY DESIGN: This study evaluated the association between infective endocarditis and infective spondylodiscitis and its clinical features. OBJECTIVES: To report case studies of patients with spondylodiscitis complicating infective endocarditis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Early diagnosis of infective endocarditis as the source of the spondylodiscitis is often difficult because clinical and radiologic patterns are similar to those present in spondylodiscitis alone. METHODS: The case records of the patients with infective endocarditis admitted to our Department from 1991-1998 were reviewed. The diagnosis of spondylodiscitis was made on the basis of clinical features and of typical radiologic signs. RESULTS: Among 30 patients affected by infective endocarditis, three also were affected by spondylodiscitis. All patients fully recovered after appropriate antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSIONS: In all patients with spondylodiscitis, infective endocarditis should be excluded, particularly in patients with a history of heart valve disease.

Adult↗

Prevention of bacterial endocarditis.

A major review of the American Heart Association guidelines for endocarditis prophylaxis was published in 1997. In view of changing perspectives on the population at risk for endocarditis and new information on the likelihood of particular procedures to place patients at risk, simplified guidelines have been developed. The role of invasive procedures as a risk factor is deemphasized, simplified single-dose strategies are suggested, and parenteral regimens are required less frequently. In addition, more extensive alternatives to erythromycin, including the newer macrolide antibiotics, are now part of the recommendations for patients who are unable to take penicillins. The new report also discusses the appropriateness of prophylaxis in the presence of the complicated issue of mitral valve prolapse and the relationship of valvar flow patterns to risk for endocarditis. Although no definitive randomized trials have been performed unequivocally establishing the benefits of endocarditis prophylaxis, the new guidelines represent an effort to favorably modify the risk-benefit ratio for use of antibiotics in the patient at risk. In addition to the new guidelines, other recent reports emphasize the importance of associated nonpharmacologic methods to prevent endocarditis, such as meticulous skin care and personal hygiene, and the need for a determined educational approach in the patient at risk to minimize risk. Recent reports have also emphasized the need for pediatric awareness of the changing patient population at risk for endocarditis and the need for increased vigilance in particular patients.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Synchronous primary endometrial and ovarian carcinoma in a patient with marantic endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE), or marantic endocarditis, is a rare form of endocarditis found in patients with advanced malignancy and collagen-vascular disorders. There is limited information about the clinical course of patients with NBTE because the majority of cases are found at the time of autopsy. CASE: A 38-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with recent onset of chest pain and fatigue. Initial evaluation revealed cardiac valvular disease, and the patient underwent aortic valve replacement. Final pathology revealed nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. A metastatic work-up revealed a complex pelvic mass and elevated CA 125. The patient underwent an exploratory laparotomy and was subsequently found to have synchronous primary endometrial and ovarian carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis is rare and carries a high mortality. This case is unusual in that the diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis led to the diagnosis of a gynecologic malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma↗

A clinical study of culture-negative endocarditis.

Culture-negative infective endocarditis (CNE) is a diagnostic problem in spite of improved echocardiographic and blood culturing techniques. We conducted the present study to estimate the proportion of CNE in patients with infective endocarditis, to investigate data regarding risk factors, and to evaluate the Duke and the modified Beth Israel criteria in patients with CNE. We evaluated 820 consecutive suspected episodes of infective endocarditis in adults at the Departments of Infectious Diseases in Göteborg and Borås, Sweden (1984-1996). All patients were diagnosed and treated according to a protocol; 487 episodes were identified as infective endocarditis. Episodes with absence of bacterial growth at blood culture were defined as CNE and were classified with the Duke and the modified Beth Israel criteria. We identified 116 CNE episodes (median age, 67 yr). Mortality was 7%, and in 15%, cardiac surgery was performed. The Duke criteria classified 20 definite, 80 possible, and 16 reject episodes. The modified Beth Israel criteria distinguished 13 definite, 15 probable, 27 possible, and 61 reject episodes. The proportion of CNE among patients with infective endocarditis varied from 19% to 27% at the 2 departments. Antibiotic treatment preceded blood culture in 45% of the CNE episodes. About 20% in a Scandinavian population of infective endocarditis patients have CNE. Antibiotic pretreatment explains less than 50% of all CNE episodes. The Duke criteria are more sensitive but less specific than the modified Beth Israel criteria in classifying patients with CNE.

Adult↗

New agents for Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as well as newly discovered S. aureus strains with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin mandates development of new antistaphylococcal agents. This review summarizes currently available and forthcoming antimicrobials for treatment of S. aureus endocarditis. RECENT FINDINGS: No new antimicrobial has been proven superior to antistaphylococcal penicillins for treatment of methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) endocarditis. Vancomycin has become standard treatment for MRSA but poor outcomes have been reported, both with susceptible and intermediately resistant S. aureus strains (VISA). Linezolid has successfully treated individual cases of MRSA endocarditis, but limitations include long-term safety. Daptomycin has recently been proven effective and well tolerated for MSSA and MRSA bacteremia, including right-sided endocarditis. New glycopeptides, including dalbavancin and telavancin, as well as the new cephalosporin ceftobiprole, have not yet been studied for treatment of endocarditis but appear active against MRSA and potentially VISA. SUMMARY: Antistaphylococcal penicillins remain the treatment of choice for MSSA. Of the currently available newer agents, daptomycin appears to have the most rapid bactericidal activity and provides a much-needed alternative to vancomycin for treatment of MRSA or MSSA bacteremia and right-sided endocarditis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Anti-fibrin antibody binding in valvular vegetations and kidney lesions during experimental endocarditis.

In Streptococcus sanguinis (sanguis) induced experimental endocarditis, we sought evidence that the development of aortic valvular vegetation depends on the availability of fibrin. Endocarditis was induced in New Zealand white rabbits by catheter placement into the left ventricle and inoculation of the bacteria. Fibrin was localized in the developing vegetation with 99mTechnetium (Tc)-labeled anti-fibrin antibody one or three days later. When rabbit anti-fibrin antibody was given intravenously on day 1, the mass of aortic valvular vegetation was significantly reduced at day 3; infusion of non-specific rabbit IgG showed no effect. The 99mTc-labeled anti-fibrin antibody also labeled kidneys that showed macroscopic subcapsular hemorrhage. To learn if the deposition of fibrin in the kidneys was a consequence of endocarditis required a comparison of farm-bred and specific pathogen-free rabbits before and after the induction of endocarditis. Before induction, the kidneys of farm-bred rabbits were labeled, but specific pathogen-free rabbits were free of labeling and signs of macroscopic hemorrhage. After 3 days of endocarditis, kidneys of 10 of 14 specific pathogen-free rabbits labeled with 99mTc-labeled anti-fibrin antibody and showed hemorrhage. Kidney lesions were suggested to be a frequent sequellae of S. sanguinis infective endocarditis. For the first time, fibrin was shown to be required for the continued development of aortic valvular vegetations.

Animals↗

Serotype-specific polysaccharide of Streptococcus mutans contributes to infectivity in endocarditis.

Streptococcus mutans and other viridans streptococci have been implicated as major etiological agents of infective endocarditis. The serotype-specific rhamnose-glucose polysaccharide (RGP) of S. mutans has several biological functions that appear to be essential for the induction of infective endocarditis. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of RGP to the infectivity of S. mutans in infective endocarditis using a rat model. The RGP-defective mutant of S. mutans showed reduced ability to induce infective endocarditis compared to the parental strain. The ability of S. mutans to induce infective endocarditis was not consistent with the binding capacity of the organism to extracellular matrix proteins. The results suggest that S. mutans containing whole RGP is more virulent than the RGP-defective mutant, and the RGP has an important role for the induction of infective endocarditis by S. mutans.

Animals↗

Evidence for diversity within Propionibacterium acnes: a comparison of the T-cell stimulatory activity of isolates from inflammatory acne, endocarditis and the laboratory.

BACKGROUND: Propionibacterium acnes is primarily associated with the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris but reports are increasing in number implicating P. acnes in other diseases such as abscess formation, meningitis and endocarditis. The pathogenicity of P. acnes is thought to be partly due to the interaction of the bacterium with the immune system. Historically, investigations have focused on humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to P. acnes antigens without attention to the possibility that different antigens may be expressed by different isolates. OBJECTIVE: Investigations were performed to determine whether there were differences between a laboratory strain of P. acnes (P-37) and fresh clinical isolates in their ability to stimulate naive and adult lymphocytes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The fresh isolates were collected from a patient with inflammatory acne and a patient with P. acnes-induced prosthetic valve endocarditis. The lymphocyte transformation assay was used to detect responses to whole-cell suspensions of stationary phase P. acnes isolates during 7 days of incubation. RESULTS: The acne isolate was significantly more stimulatory for cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNCs) than the laboratory isolate (P. acnes P-37) at day 4 of incubation. There were no significant differences between the three strains at any other time points. However, the isolate cultivated from inflammatory acne was significantly more stimulatory for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) from acne donors than the endocarditis isolate or the laboratory strain at most time points. There were no significant differences between the endocarditis strain and the laboratory strain. CONCLUSION: It can be hypothesized that in case of P. acnes-induced endocarditis lymphocyte stimulation is a disadvantage for the microorganism and therefore a lack of lymphocyte stimulation may be relevant to the pathogenesis of endocarditis.

Acne Vulgaris↗

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans endocarditis.

Among the bacteria of the HACEK group, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is the organism involved most commonly in infective endocarditis. However, the epidemiological and clinical features specifically associated with this species have not been evaluated adequately. Three patients with infective endocarditis caused by A. actinomycetemcomitans seen at the Hospital La Timone (Marseille, France) between 1994 and 2001 are reported. Of 99 cases in the literature, 75% of patients had previous heart disease before infective endocarditis, the portal of entry of which was usually the oral cavity. Among the total of 102 cases, 27 had prosthetic valves. Intermittent fever was observed in all cases, and weight loss and peripheral signs of endocarditis were noteworthy in this study. Anaemia and microscopic haematuria were frequently noted. The disease is insidious, with a mean duration of symptoms of 13 weeks before diagnosis, as confirmed by blood cultures incubated for > 5 days. The aortic valve is most commonly involved, and echocardiographic findings were non-specific. Complications occurred in 63% of patients, with emboli being the most common. The surgery rate was 23.5%. The overall mortality rate was 18%. Of the cases, 76.5% were cured with antibiotics alone, including a simple third-generation cephalosporin or a combination of ampicillin and an aminoglycoside. An antibiotic therapy duration of at least 4 weeks is recommended. Surgical therapy is usually required for haemodynamic reasons. Prophylaxis of A. actinomycetemcomitans endocarditis relies on antibiotic therapy for all cardiac patients at risk before dental procedures. Among 17 patients undergoing dental manipulations, only eight received amoxycillin before the procedure, demonstrating that prophylaxis is far from being systematically prescribed. In conclusion, A. actinomycetemcomitans endocarditis should be highly suspected in patients with previous cardiac disease and for whom symptoms have evolved over a number of weeks or even months.

Actinobacillus Infections↗

Infective endocarditis in children: the changing profile.

This article discusses the principles for diagnosis and treatment of infective endocarditis in children. There has generally been a consistent volume of streptococcus endocarditis, the major lesion in pediatric endocarditis, but there has been an increase in Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis as well as neonatal endocarditis. Neonatal endocarditis is a severe form of the disease.

Child↗

Stentless porcine bioprostheses in the treatment of aortic valve infective endocarditis.

Between January 1992 and June 1994, 23 patients underwent surgery for aortic valve endocarditis at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the University of Verona; a subgroup of 10 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with a porcine stentless valve (Biocor LTDA n = 8; Toronto SPV n = 2). There were 7 males and 3 females with a mean age of 56.3 years (range, 36 to 73 years). Eight patients had active endocarditis and two had healed endocarditis. Nine patients had native valve in endocarditis, the presence of a bicuspid aortic valve in 2, and 1 patient had recurrent prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), 7 of whom were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Functional Class IV. The main indications for operation were congestive cardiac failure, active sepsis, and presence of large and mobile vegetations by echo and arrhythmias. There were no operative or late mortalities in this subgroup of patients. Short-term survival is 100% at a mean follow-up time of 11.2 months (range, 4 to 18 months), with no recurrent endocarditis or valve-related complications.

Adult↗

Risk factor analysis of hospital mortality in patients with endocarditis with ring abscess.

BACKGROUND: Endocarditis associated with ring abscess is a pathology with high morbidity and mortality. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study was to analyze hospital mortality risk factors in patients with ring abscess due to endocarditis. METHODS: From January 1982 to December 2000, 104 patients underwent surgical intervention at the Heart Institute of the University of São Paulo Medical School for valve endocarditis with ring abscess. The age ranged from 6 years to 73 years, with an average of 40.3 years and 72.1% were male. According to NYHA functional class (FC), 12 (11.5%) were in FC II, 62 (59.6%) in FC III, and 30 (28.9%) in FC IV. Seventy-seven (74.0%) patients had endocarditis on a bioprosthesis, 58 (55.8%) in the aortic position and 19 (18.3%) in the mitral position. Twenty-nine (26.9%) patients had atrioventricular blockage prior to the operation. Univariate analysis was performed comparing variables and hospital mortality with a level of significance of 5%. Multivariate analysis was performed by logistic regression. RESULTS: The hospital mortality was 19.2% (20 patients). Univariate analysis showed that atrioventricular blockage, age, and prosthetic valve endocarditis significantly influenced hospital mortality. Multivariate analysis identified atrioventricular blockage as an independent predictor of hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative atrioventricular blockage is an independent risk factor for hospital mortality in the surgical treatment of endocarditis with ring abscess.

Abscess↗