[Infectious endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus. Study at the Ignacio Chavez National Institute of Cardiology...

This is a descriptive survey of infectious endocarditis (EI) due to Staphylococci, collected at the Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez", in a ten years period. All had anatomical and bacteriological diagnosis. There were 21 cases, this disease in not rare, and both coagulase-positive or negative Staphylococci were represented in similar proportion as etiologic agents. Coagulase positive organisms produce a clinical picture of septicemia and systemic boxicity, therefore early diagnosis and prompt therapy is forthcoming. Instead coagulase negative EI cause an insidious illness with late diagnosis, focal intramyocardial abscesses and low responsiveness to therapy explain the poor prognosis. It is impossible to differentiate with our present resources between Staphylococcal bacteremia and EI. We recommend, combined antimicrobial therapy and if necessary early surgical treatment.