Infective endocarditis: changing aetiology of disease

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Infective endocarditis (IE) presents a persistent challenge with high morbidity and mortality.
• Despite advancements, IE incidence remains stable, indicating evolving disease dynamics.
• Traditional risk factors like rheumatic heart disease are being superseded by factors such as an aging population, degenerative valve disease, and intravenous drug use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of infective endocarditis.
• To describe the current understanding, investigation, and changing epidemiology of IE.
• To highlight the shift in microbiological profile of IE.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on infective endocarditis.
• Analysis of epidemiological trends and microbiological data.
• Discussion of evolving risk factors and diagnostic approaches.

Main Results:

• The epidemiology of IE is shifting, with new risk factors emerging.
• Staphylococcal infections are increasingly prevalent in IE, surpassing viridans streptococci.
• Increased use of invasive procedures and devices contributes to a growing at-risk population.

Conclusions:

• Infective endocarditis is an evolving disease with a changing risk factor profile.
• The microbiological landscape of IE has shifted towards staphylococcal predominance.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for effective investigation and management of IE.