Review of 65 cases of infective endocarditis in Dunedin Public Hospital.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Infective endocarditis remains a challenging disease to manage. The objective of this study was to evaluate the management of patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis presenting to a regional hospital.

METHODS: During the years 1997 to 2002, 65 episodes of bacterial endocarditis in 62 patients (20 female, 42 male; age range from 7-89 yrs, median 68 yrs) classified as definite or possible according to the Duke criteria were reviewed retrospectively. The demographic data, predisposing factors, echocardiographic findings, culture results, complications and mortality were recorded and analysed.

RESULTS: Forty-five episodes (69%) were definite endocarditis and 20 episodes (31%) were possible endocarditis. All cases had undergone transthoracic or transoesophageal echocardiograms with vegetations found in 59 (91%) episodes. There were 49 cases of native valve endocarditis, 21 (34%) of whom had either congenital or acquired valvular disease. Fifteen cases (23%) were prosthetic valve endocarditis. One case was automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads endocarditis. Preceding dental or surgical manipulation was observed in 7 cases (11%). Aortic valve (38/59, 64%) was the most common valve involved followed by mitral valve (21/59, 36%). Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 20 episodes (31%), Streptococcus viridans for 16 episodes (25%), Enterococcus faecalis for 5 episodes (8%), other organisms for 9 episodes (14%), and culture negative endocarditis (CNE) for 15 episodes (23%). The majority of the cases had single valve involvement (50/59, 85%); only 9 cases (15%) were double valve endocarditis. Ten cases (15%) needed urgent valve replacement. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 20% (13/65), and at 6 months was 31% (20/65). Higher 6-month mortality was seen in patients with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis or CNE.

CONCLUSIONS: Despite major advances in diagnostic technology, improvement in antimicrobial selection and monitoring, and progress in surgical techniques, the morbidity and mortality of bacterial endocarditis remain high.