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Infective endocarditis in the narcotic addict.

As long as the illicit use of heroin and other drugs continues in our society, infective endocarditis will remain a significant medical problem in the drug-using population. The majority of infections are produced by S. aureus, and the tricuspid valve is most commonly involved. Addicts, unlike the general population, may also develop endocarditis with a variety of gram-negative bacilli and have a higher incidence of fungal infection. The outcome of each individual infection is dependent on the prompt recognition of the underlying valvular infection and the institution of antimicrobial therapy. Infection of the tricuspid valve has a much more favorable prognosis than does infection of the aortic or mitral valves. Fungal endocarditis, and frequently gram-negative bacillary endocarditis, require valvular surgery to effect a cure.

Adult↗

Group A streptococcus endocarditis: report of five cases and review of literature.

Group A streptococcus is an uncommon cause of infective endocarditis. We report five probable cases during a 10-year period (1980-1989) from a 750-bed community-teaching hospital. None of the patients were drug abusers. Group A streptococcus is the cause of infective endocarditis in between 0 and 5% cases in reported series. Since the introduction of penicillin 69 cases of group A streptococcus endocarditis have been reported in the literature. Clinical details of 14 patients, none of whom were drug abusers, are available. Included are our five cases. Eight patients had no underlying valve lesions. The overall mortality was 21% but only 15% for patients treated approximately. Among the 25 reported IV drugs abusers with group A streptococcus endocarditis and known valve involvement, right-sided heart valves were involved in 19 and left sided in six. The overall mortality was 9%.

Aged↗

Prognostic index in prediction of mortality from infective endocarditis.

Out of 176 patients with infective endocarditis complicating rheumatic (120) and congenital heart disease (38), mortality occurred in 35 patients (19.9%). Presence of leukocytosis, heart failure, major embolisation and isolation of certain organisms including Staphylococci, beta-haemolytic Streptococci, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella were ominous with higher mortality rates compared with those when they were absent (P less than 0.02). Stepwise logistic multiple regression was then applied and the four most important independent variables were identified. A prognostic index for the prediction of mortality for infective endocarditis was then constructed by the summation of the regression coefficients. By applying this index, patients with infective endocarditis could be divided into subgroups with increasing proportional mortality from 5.8 to 83.3%. It provides an objective assessment of the risk patients with infective endocarditis, and a more reliable evaluation of benefit of any new treatment regimen, including cardiac surgery, during the acute stage.

Endocarditis, Bacterial↗

Experimental endocarditis following dental extractions in rats with periodontitis.

This study analyzed the development of bacterial endocarditis following dental extraction in rats with periodontal disease. Periodontal disease was produced in rats by tying silk ligatures around the two maxillary first molars, and placing the animals on a high sucrose diet. Sterile aortic valve vegetations were produced by means of a transaortic catheter, and 24 hours later the maxillary first molars were extracted. The animals were killed 72 hours after the extractions. In rats with periodontal disease induced for 10 and 14 weeks, extractions resulted in an incidence of bacterial endocarditis of 24% and 50%, respectively, most of which were due to streptococcal species (two were caused by Staphylococcus [corrected] aureus). The difference, though not statistically significant (p = 0.10, chi 2 with Yates correction), shows a trend toward increased incidence of endocarditis with increasing severity of periodontal disease. This model demonstrates that one can reliably induce bacterial endocarditis after dental extractions in rats with periodontal disease.

Animals↗

Echocardiographic assessment of patients with infectious endocarditis: prediction of risk for complications.

To enhance the echocardiographic identification of high risk lesions in patients with infectious endocarditis, the medical records and two-dimensional echocardiograms of 204 patients with this condition were analyzed. The occurrence of specific clinical complications was recorded and vegetations were assessed with respect to predetermined morphologic characteristics. The overall complication rates were roughly equivalent for patients with mitral (53%), aortic (62%), tricuspid (77%) and prosthetic valve (61%) vegetations, as well as for those with nonspecific valvular changes but no discrete vegetations (57%), although the distribution of specific complications varied considerably among these groups. There were significantly fewer complications in patients without discernible valvular abnormalities (27%). In native left-sided valve endocarditis, vegetation size, extent, mobility and consistency were all found to be significant univariate predictors of complications. In multivariate analysis, vegetation size, extent and mobility emerged as optimal predictors and an echocardiographic score based on these factors predicted the occurrence of complications with 70% sensitivity and 92% specificity in mitral valve endocarditis and with 76% sensitivity and 62% specificity in aortic valve endocarditis.

Adult↗

Immunoscintigraphy using technetium-99m-labeled anti-NCA-95 antigranulocyte antibodies as an adjunct to echocardiography in subacute infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the clinical value of immunoscintigraphy in subacute infective endocarditis. BACKGROUND: Radiolabeled granulocytes can reveal inflammatory lesions. METHODS: Using technetium-99m-labeled anti-NCA-95 anti-granulocyte antibodies, planar scintigraphy and single-photon emission computed tomography of the thorax were performed in 72 consecutive patients with suspected endocarditis. Each patient also underwent transthoracic and, if findings were negative, transesophageal echocardiography. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were found to have endocarditis on the basis of clinical criteria (surgical confirmation in 17 patients), and the remaining 39 served as control subjects. Initial scintigraphy was true positive in 26 patients (sensitivity 79%) and false positive in 7 (specificity 82%). Echocardiography was true positive in 29 patients (sensitivity 88%) and false positive in 1 (specificity 97%). Scintigraphy was positive in the four patients with false negative echocardiography, and echocardiography was positive in the seven patients with false negative scintigraphy. Thus, the combination of scintigraphy and echocardiography yielded a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 82%. In 10 of the 11 patients with two to three follow-up studies, scintigraphy became negative parallel to clinical improvement, indicating decreasing floridity of the inflammatory process. CONCLUSIONS: Immunoscintigraphy in patients with subacute infective endocarditis provides valuable diagnostic information in equivocal echocardiographic findings and may be used to monitor antibiotic therapy.

Adolescent↗

Bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis secondary to endocarditis with negative transesophageal echocardiogram.

PURPOSE: To present a case of bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis as the primary manifestation of an aortic root abscess and endocarditis, both of which were undetected by transesophageal echocardiogram. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 13-year-old male presented with bilateral endogenous endophthalmitis and previously undiagnosed ventricular septal defect, subaortic stenosis, and a mitral valve cleft. RESULTS: Cardiac evaluation, systemic evaluation, and transesophageal echocardiogram were negative for endocarditis, but endocarditis and aortic root abscess were discovered at time of cardiac surgery. The patient responded to systemic treatment for endocarditis and surgical management of his cardiac defect. CONCLUSION: A cardiac source for endogenous endophthalmitis should be considered in the presence of clinical diagnosis of bacteremia, despite a negative transesophageal echocardiogram and systemic evaluation.

Abscess↗

Medical versus surgical management of Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic valve endocarditis.

PURPOSE: The study's purpose was to identify prognostic factors associated with mortality in Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic valve endocarditis and to determine whether these factors influenced decisions to treat medically versus surgically. We also analyzed whether there was a subset of patients who were cured with medical therapy alone. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with S aureus prosthetic valve endocarditis was performed. Demographic and clinical data were collected from existing medical records. Severity of illness was classified using American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score. Impact of treatment on in-hospital mortality was assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients met the Duke criteria for definite S aureus prosthetic valve endocarditis. Twenty-three patients were treated medically, and 32 patients had surgical intervention. Overall mortality was 36% (28% in the surgical group and 48% in the medical group). ASA score IV (P < .001) and older age (P = .014) were significant risk factors of mortality. Patients with ASA score IV (P = .037) and multiple prosthetic valves (P = .013) were less likely to undergo surgery. Medically treated patients were older compared with those in the surgical group (median age 66 vs 55 years, P = .04). All 4 patients aged less than 50 years in the medically treated group survived. CONCLUSION: Mortality was generally higher in the medically treated patients with S aureus prosthetic valve endocarditis. Multivariable analysis showed that ASA class IV and bioprosthetic valves were independent predictors of mortality. A subset of medically treated patients characterized by age less than 50 years, ASA score III, and without cardiac, central nervous system, or systemic complications were cured without surgical intervention.

Aged↗

Aspergillus endocarditis after cardiac surgery.

Aspergillus species infections are an increasingly common occurrence in hospital wards. Aspergillus endocarditis constitutes one of the manifestations of the disease, which bears a poor prognosis in cardiac surgery patients. A review of the literature on fungal and Aspergillus endocarditis was undertaken. Valvular risk factors, indwelling intravenous catheters, prolonged antibiotics, malignancy, and intravenous drug use increase the risk. Clinical presentation is insidious, with embolic complications often representing the first manifestation of the disease. Blood cultures are typically negative. The mortality rate is almost 100%. Amphotericin B represents the mainstay of medical therapy with several possible adjuncts. Surgery is an essential part of therapy in Aspergillus endocarditis after cardiac surgery and should be undertaken as soon as the diagnosis is made. Aspergillus endocarditis is an ominous complication after cardiac surgery. A high suspicion index, early administration of appropriate antibiotics, and prompt surgical intervention should improve the prognosis, which remains dismal.

Adult↗

Aortic valve translocation for severe prosthetic valve endocarditis: early results and long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of ventriculo-aortic disconnection and aortic root abscesses after prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis carries high mortality and morbidity. Initial experience with translocation of the aortic valve and distal coronary artery bypass grafting was disappointing in terms of short-term and long-term success in the few published reports. We describe a technique of translocation of the aortic valve into the ascending aorta with direct antegrade myocardial revascularization. METHODS: Between 1980 and 1992, we included 21 patients and evaluated their long-term outcome. The surgical technique included extracting the aortic valve prosthesis, resecting all infected tissue, restoring the left ventricular outflow tract, and translocating the aortic valve into the ascending aorta, associated with myocardial revascularization of the left main trunk and the proximal right coronary artery. RESULTS: All patients required emergency surgery: 15 patients were in severe congestive heart failure, 3 patients were in cardiogenic shock, and 3 patients had multiple neurologic and peripheral signs of distal embolization. Fifteen patients had active prosthetic valve endocarditis. Intraoperative findings dictated the translocation. The overall hospital mortality was 14%. None of the 18 hospital survivors had prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis recurrence. All patients were observed from 12 to 22 years, are alive, and have resumed normal activities. CONCLUSIONS: In severe forms of prosthetic valve endocarditis, this technique provides a safe and reliable alternative to homograft replacement. The long-term results are satisfactory.

Adolescent↗

Deep sternal wire infection resulting in severe pulmonary valve endocarditis.

Right-sided infective endocarditis is uncommon, comprising less than 5% of all cases of endocarditis. This is primarily seen in patients with drug abuse, long-term intravenous catheters, and congenital malformations, or a combination of these. Isolated pulmonary valve endocarditis is difficult to recognize due to its rarity, minimal cardiac manifestations, and predominance of pulmonary infections secondary to embolization of the vegetations. We describe an unusual case of chronic sternal wound infection and migration of an infected braided sternal wire causing right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary valve endocarditis, which necessitated a complicated reoperation including pulmonary valve replacement with a homograft.

Aged↗

Native aortic valve vegetative endocarditis with Cunninghamella.

Cunninghamella bertholletiae is a rare Mucor species that is seldom the cause for endocarditis of prosthetic heart valves. It is even a more uncommon cause of endocarditis of native heart valves. We present a case of Cunninghamella endocarditis of a native aortic valve in an immuno-compromised patient, diagnosed from tissue culture obtained at the time of surgery. There have only been two other reported cases of native valve endocarditis with a Mucor species, and in those cases, the diagnoses were made post-mortem.

Adult↗

Differentiating clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of chordal rupture detected in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and floppy mitral valve: impact of the infective endocarditis on chordal rupture.

AIMS: We aimed to compare the clinical and echocardiographic correlates of chordal rupture in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease and floppy mitral valve. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group comprised of 224 patients who underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography because of the severe mitral regurgitation. Chordal rupture was detected in 58 (25.9%) out of the 224 patients, in 33 out of the 83 (39.7%) patients with floppy mitral valve, and in 25 out of the 141 (17.7%) patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Chordal rupture was more frequently associated with anterior leaflet (80%) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease, and posterior leaflet (72.7%) in patients with floppy mitral valve (p<0.05). Univariate correlates of chordal rupture were age, male sex, posterior mitral leaflet thickening and chordal elongation in patients with floppy mitral valve (p<0.05), and chordal shortening (p<0.0001) and infective endocarditis involving mitral anterior leaflet (p<0.05) in rheumatic group. Independent predictors of chordal rupture were age (>50 years), posterior mitral leaflet thickness (> or =0.45cm), and male sex (p<0.05) in patients with floppy mitral valve while infective endocarditis involving mitral anterior leaflet (p<0.05) in patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease. Patients with chordal rupture due to floppy mitral valve had an older age (p<0.0001), a male dominance, longer mitral leaflets and chordae, and a larger mitral annulus circumference (p<0.05) as compared to those with rheumatic chordal rupture. Despite the comparable severity of mitral regurgitation and left atrial diameters between the two groups of chordal rupture (p>0.05), functional class and pulmonary artery systolic pressure were higher, and atrial fibrillation, acute deterioration, infective endocarditis, mitral leaflet rupture and need for mitral valve surgery in the 3 months were more frequent in rheumatic chordal rupture subgroup (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Chordal rupture seems to be more frequently associated with anterior mitral leaflet in rheumatic mitral valve disease, whereas it was the posterior leaflet in floppy mitral valve. Chordal rupture was related to male sex, older age, posterior leaflet thickening, and chordal elongation in patients with floppy mitral valve. However, infective endocarditis, acute deterioration, and need for early mitral surgery were more frequent in patients with rheumatic chordal rupture.

Adult↗

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis with paravalvular abscess treated with daptomycin.

Prosthetic valves have been used extensively for severe cardiac valvular dysfunction for the past 3 decades. Prosthetic cardiac valves may be infected with organisms causing bacteremia, particularly gram-positive cocci. Staphylococcus epidermidis (coagulase negative staphylococci) and Staphylococcus aureus , both methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, are the most frequent pathogens causing prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). Vancomycin has been the cornerstone of therapy for serious MRSA infections including bacteremia and endocarditis. Clinicians have noted that MRSA bacteremias treated with vancomycin often fail to clear even with prolonged therapy. Persistent or prolonged MRSA bacteremia unresponsive to vancomycin therapy has led to the treatment of these infections by other agents, that is, quinupristin, dalfopristin, linezolid, or daptomycin. These antibiotics have been found particularly useful in treating MRSA bacteremias unresponsive to vancomycin therapy. We report a case of a patient who presented with MRSA PVE complicated by perivalvular aortic abscess with persistent MRSA bacteremia unresponsive to vancomycin therapy. The patient's MRSA bacteremia was cleared with daptomycin therapy (6 mg/kg/d). Because the patient refused surgery, daptomycin therapy was continued in hopes of curing the endocarditis and sterilizing the perivalvular aortic abscess. Transesophageal echocardiogram revealed a decrease in abscess in the aortic perivalvular abscess after 1 week of daptomycin therapy. The patient made an uneventful recovery. The cure of PVE and perivalvular abscesses usually requires removal of the prosthetic device and abscess drainage. In this case, in which surgery was not an option, medical therapy of PVE and a decrease in size of the aortic perivalvular abscess were accomplished with daptomycin therapy. Daptomycin is an alternative to vancomycin therapy in patients with prolonged or persistent MRSA bacteremia secondary to endocarditis or abscess.

Abscess↗

Is the MIC useful in deciding to treat endocarditis surgically?

The infecting pathogen and its susceptibility to antibiotics is used to suggest prognosis in endocarditis. A case study was performed in a tertiary referral cardiology centre to assess the contribution of the measurement of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to the decision to treat endocarditis surgically. The records were examined of 125 patients admitted between 1981 and 1999 in whom the minimum inhibitory concentration for the pathogen had been measured. The measures of outcome were mortality at time of hospital discharge and at 6 months, surgical referral and cure by medical treatment. Endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus with a raised MIC of flucloxacillin (methicillin) was associated with higher mortality even if glycopeptides were used in treatment (< or = 35 mg/l 0/7 versus MIC 1-2 mg/l 4/13, P = 0.01). Elevated MICs of flucloxacillin in S. aureus infection or of gentamicin in streptococcal disease were associated with surgical intervention. There were no significant differences between bacterial pathogens in mortality, surgical referral or cure by medical treatment. The measurement of MIC appears prognostically important in deciding the surgical management of endocarditis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

The role of transthoracic echocardiography in excluding left sided infective endocarditis in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

In all patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia a transoesophageal echocardiogram is recommended to exclude infective endocarditis. We determined that a finding of normal to trivial valvular regurgitation on transthoracic echocardiogram in these patients significantly reduced the probability of infective endocarditis. Furthermore, in the absence of embolic phenomena the likelihood of infective endocarditis was less than 2%. This probability could be further reduced if the echocardiogram was performed greater than 5 days after the bacteraemia. Therefore, in the assessment of patients with S. aureus bacteraemia a transoesophageal echocardiogram is not always required to exclude infective endocarditis.

Adult↗

Successful treatment of MRSA native valve endocarditis with oral linezolid therapy: a case report.

Staphylococcal endocarditis is potentially fatal and is now the most common cause of infective endocarditis with a mortality rate of 25-47% [Hecht SR, Berger M. Right-sided endocarditis in intravenous drug users: prognostic features in 102 episodes. Ann Intern Med 1992;117:560-6]. Its treatment requires maintenance of bactericidal level of antibiotics for prolonged periods to attain a culture-negative state. Although intravenous vancomycin is currently the drug of choice for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) endocarditis, we present a case treated successfully with oral linezolid for 4 weeks due to a lack of venous access.

Acetamides↗

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infective endocarditis presenting as bacterial meningitis.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a rare cause of infective endocarditis. The case of community-acquired P. aeruginosa infective endocarditis reported here is the first described in the literature to present as bacterial meningitis. Furthermore, new risk factors for P. aeruginosa infective endocarditis, including mitral annular calcification and re-use of insulin syringes, are proposed. Treatment of P. aeruginosa infective endocarditis complicated by bacterial meningitis is discussed.

Acyclovir↗