Evaluation of 32 Episodes of Infective Endocarditis

• Main Authors: Rahmet ÇAYLAN, Kemalettin AYDIN, Sedat KAYGUSUZ, İftihar KÖKSAL, Cihan ÖREM
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi 2001-12-01
• Series: Flora Infeksiyon Hastalıkları ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi
• Subjects: Infective endocarditis; Prognosis
• Online Access: http://www.floradergisi.org/getFileContent.aspx?op=REDPDF&file_name=2001-6-4-267-273.pdf

In spite of developments in the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis, this disease still carries high rates of morbidity and mortality. Between 1997-2001, 32 episodes of endocarditis in 30 patients were treated in our department. Twenty-two patients were male and eight female; their ages ranged from 21-84 (mean years). Of these episodes 78% associated with native valve and 21% with prosthetic valve. Fever, fatigue, chills, dyspnea were the most common clinical findings. Blood cultures were positive in 78.1% (25/32) of the episodes, revealing Staphylococcus spp. (12), Streptococcus spp. (6), Enterococcus spp. (3), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (2), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1), Listeria spp. (1). During follow-up 34.3% of the episodes were complicated by emboli and the overall mortality rate was 40.6%. The presence of congestive heart failure was found as the major risk factor affecting the prognosis of the disease. In view of this grave outcome of this disease, prompt diagnosis and medical therapy and when indicated early surgical intervention is essential.