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Bacterial zoonoses and infective endocarditis, Algeria
Akila Benslimani1, Florence Fenollar, Hubert Lepidi
1Service de Biologie Clinique, Alger, Algérie.
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|March 9, 2005
Summary
Infective endocarditis in Algeria is often blood culture-negative. Bartonella quintana is a prevalent cause, highlighting the need for advanced diagnostic tools like serologic and molecular testing for accurate etiological identification.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) presents diagnostic challenges.
- Infective endocarditis (IE) etiology varies geographically.
- Algeria has a notable burden of IE.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the etiological agents of IE in Algeria.
- To investigate the causes of BCNE in this region.
- To assess the utility of advanced diagnostic methods for BCNE.
Main Methods:
- Collected samples from 110 IE cases in Algiers.
- Performed blood cultures locally; serologic and molecular analyses in France.
- Classified IE cases and identified causative agents using conventional and advanced techniques.
Main Results:
- Identified etiological agents in 48 cases via blood culture.
- Diagnosed 28 of 62 BCNE cases using serologic/molecular methods.
- Found Bartonella quintana (14 cases), Brucella melitensis (2 cases), and Coxiella burnetii (2 cases) as key causes, particularly B. quintana.
Conclusions:
- Bartonella quintana is highly prevalent in IE cases in North Africa.
- Serologic and molecular tools are crucial for diagnosing BCNE.
- Comprehensive etiological investigation improves IE management.
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