Infective endocarditis in hemodialysis patients: A 10-year observational single center study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Infectious Diseases
• Cardiology

Background:

• High incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) persists in chronic hemodialysis (CHD) patients.
• Existing preventive measures including hygiene, antibiotic locks, and tunneled catheters have limited impact.
• IE poses a significant clinical challenge in the hemodialysis population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical, biological, and echocardiographic features of IE in CHD patients.
• To determine the prognosis and outcomes of IE in this vulnerable patient group.
• To identify risk factors and characteristics associated with IE development in hemodialysis.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study conducted from December 2010 to March 2020.
• Data collected from Nephrology and Cardiology units at University Hospital in Oujda, Morocco.
• Analysis included 31 CHD patients diagnosed with IE.

Main Results:

• A total of 31 CHD patients with IE were identified, with an increasing number of cases in recent years.
• The majority of patients (58%) were male, with a mean age of 47 years; 25.8% had diabetes.
• Common vascular access included tunneled catheters (45.2%) and non-tunneled catheters (32.2%). Mitral and tricuspid valves were most frequently affected (41.9% each). *Staphylococcus aureus* was the predominant pathogen (69.2%), and mortality was high at 54.8%.

Conclusions:

• Infective endocarditis remains a severe condition with increasing incidence among chronic hemodialysis patients.
• High mortality rates highlight the critical need for improved prevention and early screening strategies.
• Dialysis centers must implement rigorous protocols to mitigate the risk and impact of IE.