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Patients with infective endocarditis: Five-year observation from a single reference center.
Józefa Dąbek1, Michał Majewski1, Marta Michalak-Kolarz2
1Chair and Department of Cardiology, School of Health Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland.
Summary
Diagnosing infective endocarditis (IE) is challenging due to varied symptoms. Good oral hygiene and prompt dental care are crucial for reducing IE risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) presents with diverse and often ambiguous clinical signs, making diagnosis difficult.
- IE is a severe condition that is typically fatal if left untreated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the diagnostic and therapeutic management strategies employed in a general patient cohort with IE.
- To analyze the clinical presentation, predisposing factors, and outcomes of infective endocarditis.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 45 consecutively admitted patients with IE between 2009 and 2013.
- Evaluation included echocardiography, blood cultures, laboratory tests, and analysis of medical records for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
Main Results:
- Common predisposing factors included prior heart valve surgery (40%), dental caries (17.8%), and bicuspid aortic valve (17.8%).
- Fever (92%) and heart failure symptoms (80%) were prevalent; Staphylococcus was the most common pathogen (33.3%).
- Echocardiography demonstrated high sensitivity (>90%) for detecting endocardial changes, while surgery was required in 62.2% of cases.
Conclusions:
- Diagnosing infective endocarditis remains a significant clinical challenge.
- Emphasis on oral hygiene and dental disease management is recommended to mitigate IE risk.
- Prompt diagnosis and appropriate management are critical for improving patient outcomes in IE.
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