[Infective endocarditis. A changing disease]

In spite of the advance in diagnosis and antibiotic and surgical treatment, mortality of infective endocarditis remains high. Recent studies in various countries and in Argentina have shown that the clinical profile of infective endocarditis has changed. Currently the patients are older with higher frequency of degenerative valve disease and prosthetic valve and nosocomial endocarditis. The incidence of Staphylococcus aureus as etiological agent has increased. These changes may justify the absence of decrease in mortality and suggests that more aggressive measures are needed based on prospective, well designed and controlled trials.