How Would You Treat Tricuspid Valve Infective Endocarditis in a Patient Who Uses Injection Drugs? Grand Rounds...

Infective endocarditis is a common and morbid condition involving prolonged hospital stays, significant disability, and a high mortality rate. The current crises of injection drug use and opioid use disorder have contributed to high rates of infective endocarditis in the United States. Endocarditis in patients who inject drugs involves additional management complexity for multiple reasons. Several infective endocarditis management guidelines exist, including from the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology. In light of the unique challenges of caring for this particular population, in 2022 the American Heart Association published a scientific statement specifically focusing on infective endocarditis in people who inject drugs. In these rounds, 2 experts in their respective fields, an infectious diseases specialist and a cardiac surgeon, discuss medical management, interventional approaches, and the value of multidisciplinary care for tricuspid valve endocarditis in a person who uses injection drugs, both in general and in relation to Mr. Y, a 30-year-old man with a history of substance use disorder, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, and right-sided endocarditis.