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Community-acquired febrile illness in patients with prosthetic heart valves.

We prospectively studied 40 patients with prosthetic heart valves and community-acquired febrile illness. The mean age of the group studied was 35.2 +/- 12.8 years, and the mean length of time that the prosthetic valve had been in place was 53.4 +/- 43.7 months. There was a high incidence (37.5%) of infectious endocarditis in the patients studied, with a total mortality of 15% in the group. The presence of a new regurgitant murmur, skin or retinal lesions, splenomegaly, vegetations shown on echocardiograms, and persistent bacteremia was associated with infectious endocarditis (P less than .05). The patients with mechanical Starr-Edwards valves had a significantly higher incidence (P less than .001) of infectious endocarditis than those with other types of prosthetic valves implanted in our hospital. Complete evaluation is mandatory in febrile patients with prosthetic heart valves because of the high risk of prosthetic valve endocarditis as the cause of the fever.

Adult↗

[Bartonella henselae endocarditis. Report of a case and review of the literature].

Bartonella spp are small Gram-negative rods, aerobic and highly fastidious. They are difficult to culture, in the routine bacterial cultures. They are considered as emergent human pathogens. Since 1993, three species of Bartonella (B. quintana, B. henselae, and B. elizabethae) have been described as causative agents of infectious endocarditis. In this paper we describe the case of a 43 year-old woman with a previous valvular heart disease, probably of rheumatic origin, owner of cats, that suffered an infectious endocarditis by Bartonella henselae in the aortic valve. This patient presented IgG titers against B. henselae of 1/4096 and against B. quintana of 1/256. She also had low IgM titers against B. henselae and B. quintana: 1/64 and 1/32, respectively. The patient received antibiotics for 12 weeks and suffered a valvular replacement due to the severe lesion on the aortic valve. On the endocardiac tissue of the removed valve DNA of B. henselae was detected (polymerase chain reaction-based assay). Clinical evolution of the patient was good. Diagnosis of Bartonella spp infection must be considered in every patient with infectious endocarditis and negative blood cultures, and particularly B. henselae in patients with previous valvular heart disease and regular contact with cats.

Adult↗

[Ciprofloxacin in the treatment of staphylococcal endocarditis].

Ciprofloxacin was used in treatment of 5 patients with infectious endocarditis and bacterial vegetations on the values by the findings of the echocardiography. The hemocultures produced the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus in 3 and 2 patients respectively. The degree of endocarditis was high in 3 patients and intermediate in 2 patients. The drug was administered intravenously in a dose of 200 mg 2 times a day for 4 weeks. The efficacy of the treatment was estimated by following-up the disease time course: the patients were examined prior to the treatment, every week during the treatment and after the treatment completion. The complex clinico-laboratory investigations showed that ciprofloxacin (Ciprinol, KRKA, Slavonia) is a highly efficient chemotherapeutic drug of the group of fluoroquinolones for the treatment of infectious (staphylococcal) endocarditis due to the sensitive microbes. The intravenous drug is useful in treatment of severe forms of infectious endocarditis. The drug is not toxic and well tolerated by the patients after its intravenous administration.

Adult↗

Bacterial endocarditis complicating pregnancy: case report and systematic review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Infectious endocarditis is a rare life-threatening complication of pregnancy. We report a pregnancy complicated by a 3.5-cm infected vegetation of the tricuspid valve initially presenting as unilateral hip pain as well as systematic review of this entity. SOURCES: A MEDLINE review of the English language literature from 1965 to present using the search terms 'endocarditis', 'pregnancy' and 'infection' as well as review of references was performed. RESULTS: Sixty-eight cases of infectious endocarditis complicating pregnancy were identified. The calculated maternal and fetal mortality rates were 22.1% and 14.7% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: With persistent symptomatic lesions, delivery should be considered without regard to measures of fetal lung maturity because of high fetal mortality rates.

Adult↗

[Bacterial endocarditis in clinical and echocardiographic observations].

Twenty-one patients with infectious endocarditis are reported. The diagnosis was based on finding of at least three clinical symptoms and signs, including systemic manifestations, cardiovascular signs such as the appearance of a new or changing symptoms of cardiac failure, episodes of embolism and abnormalities in laboratory investigations and features of valvular involvement by the inflammatory process, principal changing endocardium image was evidence of an active inflammatory process. The aetiological factors, diagnostic difficulties, therapeutic results and the usefulness of echocardiography in the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis are discussed.

Adult↗

[Streptococcus agalactiae infective endocarditis].

Streptococcus agalactiae infective endocarditis Streptococcus agalactiae is an unusual cause of infectious endocarditis. We describe the clinical characteristics, therapy and evolution of this infection in four patients diagnosed between 1996 and 2003. All four cases had native valve involvement and vegetations. All the patients had severe aortic failure and three of them also developed heart failure. Valve replacement surgery was performed in all four cases. Mortality was 50%. Infectious endocarditis due to S. agalactiae is very aggressive. Early surgery should be considered to prevent valve destruction and serious complications.

Adult↗

Osteoarticular infection complicating enterococcal endocarditis.

Despite the common occurrence of musculoskeletal complaints in patients with infective endocarditis, infectious osteoarticular complications are diagnosed infrequently. Moreover, although enterococcal infection is the third most common cause of infective endocarditis, infectious osteoarticular complications are rare. We report a case of disk space infection in a patient with enterococcal endocarditis. Blood cultures and an L3-4 aspirate grew Enterococcus faecalis, and transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large vegetation on the posterior mitral valve leaflet. The osteoarticular infection resolved with antimicrobial treatment, but worsening heart failure necessitated valve replacement surgery. The patient had an uneventful recovery with no evidence of recurrence or complications. A review of the medical literature from 1966 through 1998 identified 13 additional cases, only 8 of which provided clinical and treatment data. We present the clinical and laboratory findings reported in these cases, along with data from our patient. This report highlights the rare occurrence of osteoarticular infection in the setting of enterococcal endocarditis and emphasizes early recognition and treatment.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

New insight into the diagnosis of fastidious bacterial endocarditis.

Sterile blood cultures are noted in one third of patients with infectious endocarditis. Although in half of cases this is due to previous antibiotic therapy, in the other half, the aetiology of culture-negative endocarditis is intracellular bacteria such as Coxiella burnetii or fastidious growing bacteria. Although it was previously considered that the prevalence of such organisms was identical throughout the world, recent investigations on Bartonella endocarditis clearly showed that the aetiology of culture-negative endocarditis is likely to be strongly related to epidemiology of the agent in each country. During the past decade the use of molecular techniques such as PCR with subsequent sequencing to detect or to identify bacteria in valves from patients with infectious endocarditis have considerably improved the aetiological diagnosis. This is especially true in the case of culture-negative endocarditis following earlier antibiotic therapy. However, the fact that DNA remnants of past endocarditis can be detected some time after the acute episode, when the patient has been cured, suggests that the predictive value of these techniques along with the traditional histology and culture need to be evaluated closely.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

[Antibiotic prophylaxis of infective endocarditis in stomatology--a survey of cardiologists].

According to epidemiological reports; 14-20% of infectious endocarditis (IE) are associated with previous stomatological procedures (oral surgery, procedures during periodontal and conservative endodontic therapy and intra-ligament anesthesia) which cause transitory bacteriemia for 10-15 minutes. In patients at risk, such short lasting bacteriemia is sufficient for the development of infectious endocarditis. In everyday practice we encounter patients at risk for IE referred to oral surgery (most often tooth extraction) at the Oral Surgery Division, Department of Facial, Maxillary and Oral Surgery, Dubrava University Hospital. Majority of these patients are given IE prophylaxis according to the latest AHA recommendations. For some patients we first consult a cardiologist due to the underlying disease, and as a rule these patients return with cardiologist's advice on IE prophylaxis. We noticed that these recommendations differ between cardiologists. Some cardiologists have for years been recommending the same "prophylaxis" which is not in accord with AHA guidelines. From the available cardiac records we analyzed antibiotic IE prophylaxis before oral surgery in cardiac patients at risk recommended by cardiologists in four Zagreb hospitals in 2003. We collected in total 17 recommendations prescribed by 12 cardiologists. Regretfully, none was in accord with valid AHA guidelines from 1997. Only 6 out of 17 recommendations are in agreement with the outdated guidelines from 1994, which also raises concern. Therefore, we thought it was worthwhile to present these cases, hoping this will stimulate discussion on common guidelines for the benefit of patients at risk for IE.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis↗

Septic peripheral embolization from bacterial and fungal endocarditis.

Arterial embolization is second only to cardiac failure as a potentially lethal complication of acute infectious endocarditis. Embolization may be encountered with increasing frequency due to the prolongation of life afforded by antibiotics and cardiac valve replacement surgery. While distal organs are more often affected, peripheral embolization of the lower extremities is by no means rare. Over a two-year period, we have treated six patients with acute infectious endocarditis who developed lower extremity ischemia. Four patients had Gram positive bacterial endocarditis while two immunosuppressed patients developed fungal endocarditis. Treatment of all six patients included lower extremity embolectomy or bypass grafting and long-term intravenous antimicrobial or antifungal therapy. Cardiac valve replacement was required in all six patients. All lower extremities were successfully reperfused, and no patient required amputation. Although the four patients with bacterial endocarditis survived, the two patients with fungal endocarditis eventually died. In conclusion, aggressive use of arteriography, embolectomy, antimicrobial drugs, and cardiac valve replacement appear to offer the best chance for survival and limb salvage for arterial embolism related to endocarditis.

Adult↗

[Staphylococcus epidermidis infective endocarditis after mitral surgery, successfully treated with aspirin and antibiotics: a case report].

We report a case of infectious endocarditis from Staphylococcus epidermidis that occurred early after mitral valve repair (one month), suggested by fever of 38.5 degrees C and valvular vegetations of less than 10 mm on the mitral valve. In the absence of standard recommendations (medical or surgical) in treating patients with infectious endocarditis occurring after mitral valve repair, and in the absence of complications, a medical regimen was chosen associating aspirin (anti-aggregant dosages) with antibiotics. The benefit of aspirin in endocarditis has been demonstrated in experimental studies with regards to valvular vegetations and embolic risk but remains to be studied in human clinical trials. With the association of aspirin (100 mg/d) and triple antibiotic therapy (rifampicin 1200 mg/d, vancomycin 2 g/d, gentamycin 180 mg/d), the clinical status improved with complete regression of vegetations in less than 24 days and the absence of recurrence at one-year follow-up.

Adult↗

[Infective endocarditis in 100 patients subjected to heart transplantation].

PURPOSE: An analysis of occurence, etiology, clinical aspects and death rate of infectious endocarditis cases involving patients who underwent heart transplantation. METHODS: 100 consecutive heart transplant patients were analysed; follow-up varied from three to 90 (medium of 25.38, SD +/- 27.97) months. Diagnostic criteria for endocarditis were those of the epidemiology and quality control service, Heart Institute, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, that agree with those of the Center for Disease Control. Diagnosis was established mostly by blood cultures, echocardiograms, either transthoracic or esophageal and autopsy. RESULTS: Six cases of endocarditis were recognized, with four deaths; in three of those we found severe systemic compromise. All cases had fever as an important symptom. CONCLUSION: Death risk seems high of infectious endocarditis after heart transplantation. The cause of this high risk appears to be linked to the bacteria themselves, to association with other clinical situations and to the use of immunosuppresive agents. We recommend a high index of suspition when risk factors are present in order to make a rapid diagnosis soon enough in the natural history of the disease; treatment has to be started as soon as possible.

Adolescent↗

[Infective endocarditis in heroin addicts in the province of Cádiz. A multicenter study of 150 cases].

BACKGROUND: Given the progressive increase in infectious endocarditis (IE) in intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) in the province of Cadiz the present study was designed with the aim of studying the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of this disease in our environment. METHODS: One hundred fifty episodes of IE occurring in 133 IVDA admitted to 6 hospitals in the province of Cadiz were studied in an open, multicentric study with a protocol of gathering of common data. Well known diagnostic criteria were used for this process and a univariant technique was employed in the analysis of prognostic factors. RESULTS: Fifty-three percent of the episodes occurred in the county of Campo de Gibraltar and 32% in the area of the Bay of Cadiz. The increase of the disease has been progressive since 1984 and marked over the last two years. All the patients presented fever, abnormal chest radiography in 90% and the process was produced by Staphylococcus aureus in 88%. Echography was abnormal in 85% of the episodes and vegetation was identified in 75%. The IE was located as right in 90%, mixed in 5% and left in 5%. Surgical treatment was required in 4 patients. Mortality was of 9%. Mixed or left location (p = 0.00003) and the development of the respiratory distress syndrome of the adult (p = 0.00001) were significantly associated with greater mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Infectious endocarditis in intravenous drug addicts maintains a well defined pattern of clinical expressivity and presents identifiable factors of prognostic influence. The increase in its prevalence in the province of Cadiz is probably due to a parallel increase in the addiction to intravenous heroin in this area.

Adolescent↗

[Comparative immunoenzyme analysis of sera for the presence of antibodies to a preparation of Staphylococcus aureus teichoic acids and DNA].

The comparative analysis of the titers of antibodies to the preparations of S. aureus teichoic acids and DNA in the sera of healthy donors and patients with infectious endocarditis and rheumatic carditis was made by means of ELISA. The sera of patients with infectious endocarditis and rheumatic carditis, in contrast to the sera of healthy donors, showed the presence of antibodies to DNA in 23.5-76.2% of cases. The correlation between the presence of antibodies to S. aureus teichoic acids and DNA in the sera of the patients was weakly pronounced.

Animals↗

[Is antibiotic prophylaxis necessary in patients on chronic dialysis and with recurrent endocarditis?].

The authors present a group of 77 patients with chronic dialysis treatment during the period from 1/92 to 4/95 with regard to the prevalence of infectious endocarditis. This disease was detected in 8 instances in 6 patients whereby one patient had three relapses. In 75% staphylococci were the infectious agent. The main risks of the disease are according to the authors impaired immunity, repeated cannulation, degenerative valvular changes. In the conclusion the authors state that the risk of developing infectious endocarditis and relapses of the disease can be reduced by careful diagnosis and antibiotic therapy. The authors do not consider lifelong antibiotic prophylaxis of these patients necessary.

Adult↗

Infective endocarditis with myocardial abscesses complicating percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

A 73-year-old man who had undergone percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty developed infectious endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Echocardiography revealed vegetations of the aortic valve and severe aortic regurgitation. Endotracheal intubation was required for progressive heart failure. Serum creatinine kinase was elevated (411 IU/l: normal 30 to 140 IU/l). Electrocardiography showed no ischemic changes. Aortic replacement was performed to treat progressive heart failure, but the patient could not be weaned off cardiopulmonary bypass and subsequently died. A post-mortem examination revealed multiple myocardial microabscesses and myocardial infarction due to embolic vegetation. The possibility of multiple abscess formation when severe ventricle dysfunction occurs in infectious endocarditis is emphasized.

Abscess↗