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Reoperations for malfunction of heart valve prostheses, especially with endocarditis.

Following the increasing number of patients with heart valve replacement and an extended indication (older age groups, acute infective endocarditis, multivalvular procedures) the indicence of malfunction of valve prostheses is continuously growing. The prognosis of patients with a malfunctioning prosthesis mainly depends on early diagnosis and adequate therapy. In a retrospective study (1970 to 1984) 3,533 implanted heart valve prostheses were followed up and the cases with malfunction (n = 150; 4.2%) were analyzed. During the follow-up period after 1963 mitral valve replacements (MVR) there were 78 cases of malfunction (4.6%), after 1806 aortic valve replacements (AVR) 73 (4.1%), and after 34 tricuspid valve replacements (TVR) 4 malfunctions (11.8%). These malfunctions concerned periprosthetic leakages (n = 65), prosthetic endocarditis (n = 42), prosthetic valve thrombosis (n = 13), mechanical dysfunction including bioprosthetic degeneration (n = 17), valve related hemolysis (n = 3), and unsatisfactory hemodynamics (n = 10). Special attention was turned to the problem of prosthetic endocarditis (1963-1984) found in a total of 71 patients following 3,878 prosthetic valve replacements (1.9%). In 42 reoperated cases (1970-1984) the causing microorganisms were analyzed, demonstrating staphylococci in a leading position. Secondary complications and additional risk factors are discussed. There has been no change concerning the basis and the strategy of management for prosthetic endocarditis for many years: After a short time of conservative management with tested antibiotics, early reoperation and exchange of the prosthesis seems to be the optimal therapy, despite a distinctly high postoperative mortality (17%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aortic Valve↗

Tricuspid endocarditis with ventricular septal defect. Case report with surgical management.

A 13-year-old girl presented with infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve related to a residual ventricular septal defect. Antibiotic therapy produced a satisfactory initial improvement, however, subsequent deterioration with uncontrolled infection, in spite of alterations in the antibiotic regime, necessitated surgical intervention. Because the endocarditis was localized to the septal leaflet, management by excision of this leaflet and annuloplasty was possible and resulted in a rapid and sustained clinical improvement with no evidence of significant residual valvar incompetence. The medical management of infective endocarditis requires bacteriological assessment to ensure that the drugs and dosages selected are appropriate and adequate for the causative organism. Early operation may be required for uncontrolled infection or cardiac decompensation; in tricuspid endocarditis secondary to a ventricular septal defect, the operation described permits removal of infective tissue while retaining valvar competence.

Adolescent↗

A suspension of fibrin glue and antibiotic for local treatment of mycotic aneurysms in endocarditis--an experimental study.

The finding of mycotic aneurysms creates a major problem in surgery for both active bacterial endocarditis and prosthetic valve endocarditis. The value of local treatment of such aneurysms by a suspension of fibrin glue and an antibiotic was examined in an animal study since a previous in vitro investigation had indicated that such a suspension may discharge sufficient quantities of the antibiotic for up to 12 days. In 3 groups of 6 rabbits each, the entrance to the left atrial appendage was occluded subtotally. The endothelium within the cavity thus created was mechanically injured and the tip of a thin transthoracic catheter was placed in the cavity. In all animals, aliquots of staphylococcus aureus were injected through the catheter. All rabbits developed fever, and positive blood cultures were obtained in 16. The animals in group 1 were left without treatment. All 6 animals lost weight progressively, 4 animals died from sepsis, 2 rabbits were sacrificed after 6 days. Active endocarditis was demonstrated by histology and bacteriology in each animal. In group 2, 12.5 mg cephalotin were injected via the catheter 24 hours after the infection. Four animals died from sepsis, one rabbit had a positive tissue culture, and only one animal was free of infection on postoperative day 10. In group 3, 12.5 mg cephalotin suspended in fibrin glue was injected via the catheter 24 hours after the infection. All animals survived, became afebrile and resumed gain of weight. At autopsy after 10 days no infection was detectable. We conclude that a suitable antibiotic suspended in fibrin glue may allow for the sterilization of mycotic aneurysms in bacterial endocarditis.

Aneurysm, Infected↗

Diagnosis of culture-negative endocarditis: the role of the Duke criteria and the impact of transesophageal echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: The Duke criteria have been shown to be more sensitive than the von Reyn criteria in the diagnosis of culture-positive endocarditis but to date have not been fully validated for culture-negative endocarditis (CNE). The aim of this study was (1) to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the Duke criteria versus clinical judgment and the von Reyn criteria in CNE and (2) to assess the diagnostic impact of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) on the Duke criteria in CNE. METHODS: The study group consisted of 49 patients with suspected CNE in whom the presence (n = 32) or absence (n = 17) of endocarditis was confirmed by surgery, autopsy, or both. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE. They were classified into a Duke category initially with TTE data only, and then the Duke categories were reevaluated with the additional TEE data. RESULTS: The Duke criteria demonstrated a significantly higher sensitivity (72%) than the von Reyn criteria (28%; P =.0008) and a higher specificity (100%) than clinical judgment (76%; P =.02). No major differences were noted between sensitivities of the Duke criteria and clinical judgement. TEE significantly augmented the capacity to diagnose CNE by Duke criteria versus TTE (P <.05). CONCLUSIONS: The Duke criteria are of high diagnostic validity for the conduction of clinical studies on CNE. They have the potential to affect clinical decision-making, based on the higher specificity versus clinical judgment. TEE appears to be crucial for the diagnosis of CNE when the Duke criteria are applied. The diagnostic differentiation between CNE, sclerotic valve degeneration, and nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis remains a challenge.

Adult↗

Better prognosis of elderly patients with infectious endocarditis in the era of routine echocardiography and nonrestrictive indications for valve surgery.

OBJECTIVE: It has been reported that endocarditis in the elderly may have a poor outcome. Our aim was to assess the different features and prognosis, if any, in the present time. METHODS: Of 103 patients with proven endocarditis, 31 were 65 years or older and 72 were younger than 65 years. Degenerative heart disease was seen more frequently in the elderly (22.5% vs 2.7%, P =.003). Drug abuse and immunodeficiency virus infection were more common in the younger group, as was tricuspid endocarditis (26.3% vs 0%, P <.001). At clinical presentation cardiac failure (41.9 vs 19.4%, P =.02) and leukocytosis (61.2% vs 40.2%, P =.049) were seen more frequently in the elderly. RESULTS: Despite other similar clinical features, it took longer to diagnose older patients (7.2 +/- 6.2 vs 3.2 +/- 3.5 days, P <.001). Enterococcus infected the aged more often (32.2% vs 13.1%, P =.001). During hospitalization, heart failure and embolization tended to be more common in the elderly and the younger group, respectively. There were no significant differences in the incidence of anatomic complications, the need for operation, and overall mortality. CONCLUSION: Although a worse prognosis has been reported in elderly patients with infective endocarditis, the early use of transesophageal echocardiographic examinations and equal therapeutic options provides a similar outcome when compared with younger subjects.

Aged↗

Corynebacterium endocarditis. Difficult diagnosis in an elderly woman.

Physicians have been reminded repeatedly of the many faces of bacterial endocarditis. In this case, Corynebacterium endocarditis presented as an occult malignancy and eluded diagnosis for six months. The coryneform isolates found in cultures are often considered to be contaminants because of their ubiquitous nature, sometimes causing a delay in diagnosis. Patients with culture-negative endocarditis or Corynebacterium "contamination" should be treated as having Corynebacterium endocarditis pending results of microbiologic isolation tests.

Aged↗

Incidence and short-term prognosis of infective endocarditis in Denmark, 1980-1997.

Infective endocarditis is a serious bacterial infection, but there are relatively few data about its occurrence and prognosis. The incidence rate, 30-d case fatality and mortality rate of infective endocarditis were estimated in this registry-based cohort study. The Danish National Registry of Patients was used to estimate national incidence rates, and information on the date of death was obtained through linkage to the Civil Registration System. The study included 3351 patients with infective endocarditis from 1980 to 1997. The incidence rate for men increased from 4 to 6 per 100,000 person-years, and for women from 3 to 4 per 100,000 person-years. The mean incidence rate varied from 1.5 per 100,000 person-years in women younger than 50 y to 15.5 in men older than 70 y. The incidence increased in most age groups but was most pronounced in younger men. The overall 30-d case fatality rate of 23% increased with age and decreased with calendar time. The mean mortality rate was 0.94 per 100,000 y and decreased in the study period in most age groups. There was an increasing incidence of infective endocarditis and an improvement in the prognosis.

Adolescent↗

Internal jugular vein haemodialysis catheter-induced right atrium endocarditis--case report and review of the literature.

We present a case of right-sided endocarditis as a life-threatening complication of having a jugular vein haemodialysis catheter inadvertently placed in the right atrium. The mechanisms of direct traumatization of the endocardium by the catheter tip and continuous inoculation of bacteria onto the endocardial surface make dual lumen catheter-induced endocarditis similar to the pathophysiology of experimental endocarditis in animals. Therefore, the catheter tip should be placed in the distal superior vena cava during cannulation. Once endocarditis is present, removal of catheters and a 4-6-week course of intravenous antibiotics guided by the sensitivity test are recommended.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Destructive endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis. Case report and review of the literature.

A case of highly invasive native valve endocarditis, occurring in a young man with a preexisting cardiac anomaly, and caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis is described. Despite treatment with antibiotics the disease progressed with further growth of the bacterial vegetations and invasion of the myocard. The patient was successfully treated by surgery. Twenty three cases of endocarditis by S. lugdunensis have now been described. This organism is a major cause of destructive endocarditis accompanied by high mortality. As the outcome usually is more favourable in patients who underwent valve replacement surgery, rapid identification to the species level of coagulasenegative staphylococci is required. S. lugdunensis endocarditis should be treated preferably by surgical intervention.

Adult↗

Diagnosis and treatment of enterococcal endocarditis.

Enterococci are frequently encountered in urinary, biliary, and gastrointestinal tract infections and are increasingly being recognized in nosocomial bacteriuria and bacteremia. Undoubtedly, however, the most serious of all enterococcal infections is endocarditis. At present, enterococci are the third most common cause of infective endocarditis (after streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus), and the incidence of the disease is likely to grow as the population ages and increasing numbers of persons are placed at risk by degenerative valve disease and by predisposition to enterococcal infections through portals such as the genitourinary tract. The case presented here exemplifies many features of enterococcal endocarditis. It also illustrates the therapeutic issues and dilemmas faced in managing this disorder. Although a transesophageal approach (Figure 1) has increased the sensitivity of echocardiography for detecting valvular abnormalities in infective endocarditis, diagnosis continues to rely on blood cultures--which raises the question of how long antimicrobial therapy should be delayed for collection of blood samples. Since enterococcal isolates are often resistant to antibiotics, therapy is based on synergistic drug combinations.

Aged↗

Bromide-dependent toxicity of eosinophil peroxidase for endothelium and isolated working rat hearts: a model for eosinophilic endocarditis.

Eosinophilic endocarditis is a potentially lethal complication of chronic peripheral blood hypereosinophilia. We hypothesized that eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), an abundant eosinophil (EO) cationic granule protein, promotes eosinophilic endocarditis by binding to negatively charged endocardium, and there generating cytotoxic oxidants. Using an immunocytochemical technique, we demonstrated endocardial deposition of EPO in the heart of a patient with hypereosinophilic heart disease. Because EPO preferentially oxidizes Br- to hypobromous acid (HOBr) rather than Cl- to hypochlorous acid (HOCl) at physiologic halide concentrations, we characterized the Br(-)-dependent toxicity of both activated EOs and purified human EPO towards several types of endothelial cells and isolated working rat hearts. In RPMI supplemented with 100 microM Br-, phorbol myristate acetate-activated EOs, but not polymorphonuclear leukocytes, caused 1.8-3.6 times as much 51Cr release from four types of endothelial cell monolayers as in RPMI alone. H2O2 and purified human EPO, especially when bound to cell surfaces, mediated extraordinarily potent, completely Br(-)-dependent cytolysis of endothelial cells that was reversed by peroxidase inhibitors, HOBr scavengers, and competitive substrates. We further modeled eosinophilic endocarditis by instilling EPO into the left ventricles of isolated rat hearts, flushing unbound EPO, then perfusing them with a buffer containing 100 microM Br- and 1 microM H2O2. Acute congestive heart failure (evidenced by a precipitous decrement in rate pressure product, stroke volume work, aortic output, and MVO2 to 0-33% of control values) ensued over 20 min, which deletion of EPO, Br-, or H2O2 completely abrogated. These findings raise the possibility that EPO bound to endocardial cells might utilize H2O2 generated either by overlying phagocytes or endogenous cardiac metabolism along with the virtually inexhaustible supply of Br- from flowing blood to fuel HOBr-mediated cell damage. By this mechanism, EPO may play an important role in the pathogenesis of eosinophilic endocarditis.

Animals↗

Pneumococcal endocarditis in children.

Endocarditis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is unusual in children, accounting for 3%-7% of all cases of childhood endocarditis. The US Pediatric Multicenter Pneumococcal Surveillance Group has prospectively identified patients with invasive disease at 8 children's hospitals. During the period of 1 September 1993 through 28 February 2003, a total of 11 children with pneumococcal endocarditis were seen. Seven (64%) were 3-36 months old; 8 (73%) were boys. Ten (91%) had preexisting structural heart disease; 5 had undergone previous heart surgery. Concomitant sites of infection were noted in 6 patients (55%), including 3 patients with meningitis. One patient (9%) died during hospitalization, and 5 others (45%) experienced serious complications. Only 2 patients remained hospitalized for their entire course of parenteral antibiotic therapy. Eight of 10 pneumococcal isolates tested were vaccine or vaccine-related serotypes included in the currently licensed 7-valent conjugated pneumococcal vaccine. Pneumococcal endocarditis in children is unusual but often has serious complications.

Adolescent↗

Early surgery in patients with infective endocarditis: a propensity score analysis.

BACKGROUND: An accurate assessment of the predictors of long-term mortality in patients with infective endocarditis is not possible using retrospective data because of inherent treatment biases and predictable imbalances in the distribution of prognostic factors. Largely because of these limitations, the role of surgery in long-term survival has not been adequately studied. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from 426 patients with infective endocarditis. Variables associated with surgery in patients who did not have intracardiac devices who had left-side-associated valvular infections were determined using multivariable analysis. Propensity scores were then assigned to each patient based on the likelihood of undergoing surgery. Using individual propensity scores, 51 patients who received medical and surgical treatment were matched with 51 patients who received medical treatment only. RESULTS: The following factors were statistically associated with surgical therapy: age, transfer from an outside hospital, evidence of infective endocarditis on physical examination, the presence of infection with staphylococci, congestive heart failure, intracardiac abscess, and undergoing hemodialysis without a chronic catheter. After adjusting for surgical selection bias by propensity score matching, regression analysis of the matched cohorts revealed that surgery was associated with decreased mortality (hazard ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.13-0.55). A history of diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio, 4.81; 95% confidence interval, 2.41-9.62), the presence of chronic intravenous catheters at the beginning of the episode (hazard ratio, 2.65; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-5.33), and paravalvular complications (hazard ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-4.44) were independently associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Differences between clinical characteristics of patients with infective endocarditis who receive medical therapy versus patients who receive surgical and medical therapy are paramount. After controlling for inherent treatment selection bias and imbalances in prognostic factors using propensity score methodology, risk factors associated with increased long-term mortality included diabetes mellitus, the presence of a chronic catheter at the onset of infection, and paravalvular complications. In contrast, surgical therapy was associated with a significant long-term survival benefit.

Adult↗

Are the Duke criteria superior to the Beth Israel criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis in children?

Accurate diagnosis of infective endocarditis may be difficult. The Beth Israel criteria and the newer Duke criteria assign probability to the diagnosis of infective endocarditis on the basis of the presence of common features and manifestations. We reviewed 111 cases of pediatric infective endocarditis diagnosed and treated over 19 years. Each case was classified by the two criteria, and the results were compared. Of 111 cases, 73 (66%) and 18 (16%) were classified as definite by the Duke criteria and the Beth Israel criteria, respectively. No cases were rejected by the Duke criteria, while 21 (19%) of 111 were rejected by the Beth Israel criteria. In 18 pathologically proven cases, reanalysis without pathological data showed that the Duke criteria had significantly greater sensitivity (83%) than the Beth Israel criteria (67%) (P < .03). Echocardiographic evidence was required in 22 cases for definite classification by the Duke criteria; none were rejected, however, when echocardiographic findings were ignored. Our results suggest that the Duke criteria are superior to the Beth Israel criteria for the diagnosis of pediatric infective endocarditis.

Adolescent↗

Aspergillus mural endocarditis.

Infectious mural endocarditis is uncommon and not well documented. The clinical setting and pathologic features of five patients with Aspergillus mural endocarditis are described. Leukemia, carcinoma, renal transplantation, and hepatic failure were the primary diseases. Associated conditions include high-dose corticosteroids, cytotoxic therapy, renal failure, gram-negative sepsis, and endotracheal intubation. All patients received prolonged antibiotic therapy or treatment with three or more antibiotics. All had clinically undetected aspergillosis and severe fungal pneumonia. Fungal myocardial abscesses were present in each patient. Aspergillus mural endocarditis developed in more than 40% of patients with cardiac aspergillosis. Endocardial vegetations were contiguous with underlying myocardial infection; yet they may develop initially as a subendocardial focus rather than from a myocardial abscess. Aspergillus mural endocarditis progressed to destroy the mitral valve ring and served as a source of mycotic embolization to vital organs.

Adolescent↗

Neurological manifestations of infective endocarditis. Review of clinical and therapeutic challenges.

The nervous system is frequently involved in patients with infective endocarditis. When a careful review of presenting complaints is undertaken, neurological symptoms have been found in as high as 29% of patients. Because these manifestations may be so protean in nature, for example, stroke or transient ischaemic attack (the most common), toxic encephalopathy, meningitis, brain abscess, visual loss, seizures, headache, backache, or acute mononeuropathy, the neurologist needs to consider infective endocarditis as a possible diagnosis in many patients. During the past two decades, infective endocarditis has occurred in an ever widening clinical setting. It may often be found in persons unknown to have predisposing cardiac disease. This is particularly true in certain subsets of the population, including the elderly, patients subjected to various invasive procedures leading to nosocomial infection, and drug abusers. New diagnostic studies, including refined bacteriological culture techniques, echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and greater availability of skillful cerebral angiography, make earlier diagnosis of infective endocarditis possible. Despite this, patients with neurological complications continue to have an uncertain prognosis.

Acute Disease↗

Infective endocarditis due to nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae: report of seven cases and review.

We report seven cases of endocarditis due to nontoxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae that occurred between October 1990 and September 1991. The patients all lived in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Three patients had preexisting cardiac abnormalities, and one patient used intravenous drugs regularly. The other three patients had no known risk factors for endocarditis. Notable clinical features were the aggressive nature of the infection, the occurrence of septic arthritis in four patients, and major vascular complications in four patients, one of whom died. One patient required urgent mitral valve replacement. All of the isolates were identified as non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae var gravis. Sporadic cases of endocarditis due to C. diphtheriae have rarely been reported; septic arthritis complicating endocarditis due to this organism has not previously been described. This report highlights the importance of identifying Corynebacterium isolates from normally sterile sites at the species level.

Adult↗

Infective endocarditis: 35 years of experience at a children's hospital.

We review the predisposing conditions, the presenting signs and symptoms, as well as the risk factors and bacterial etiologies in children with infective endocarditis, focusing on hospital course and outcome. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 76 cases of endocarditis in 73 patients occurring at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh from January 1958 through December 1992. The median age of the patients was 9 years (range, 1 month to 18 years). Predisposing conditions included congenital heart disease (62 patients) and rheumatic heart disease (four patients). Seventy-seven percent of the children with congenital heart disease had undergone cardiac surgery. After therapy with appropriate antibiotics was started, blood cultures for 67 patients (70 episodes of infective endocarditis) remained positive for a mean (+/-SD) of 0.7 +/- 1.41 days, and all patients who presented with fever (75 episodes in 72 patients) remained febrile for a mean (+/-SD) of 4.28 +/- 6.21 days. Secondary fever occurred in 39% of the children. Thirty (41%) of the 73 patients survived without any complications and 13 (18%) died. Fifteen children with complications required surgery. Children with endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus were more likely than those with infection caused by viridans streptococci to have prolonged fever, secondary fever, and/or complications as well to require surgery.

Adolescent↗