Assoc.Prof.Dr.Zurkurnai Yusof
USM
Who gets infective endocarditis
Incidence: appr. 1.7 – 6.2 cases per 100000
patient years
Rates higher in at risk cohorts such as iv drug
users
Men > women (2:1)
Incidence progressively increases with age
Underlying degenerative aortic and mitral
predominate esp in the West
What is the underlying pathophysiology
Ulceration on the valvular endothelial surface
promotes bacterial adherence:
Direct contact between blood and
subendothelial components results in
production of coagulum or small clot
Local inflammation promotes cells to express
transmembrane proteins that bind fibronectin
How do patients present?
Fever 90%
Poor appetide and weight loss
Heart murmurs 80%
Vasculitic phenomenon such as splinter h’rhage,
Roth spots, and GN remain common
Emboli to brain, lung, or spleen in 30% of patients
Mycotic aneurysm
Osler’s nodes and Janeway lesions uncommon
Atypical presentation common in elderly or
immunocompromised
Osler’s node
Purpuric lesions
How to investigate endocarditis
Blood cultures
3 sets drawn one hour apart
No evidence to take at temperature peaks
Micro‐organisms responsible for native valve and prosthetic
valve endocarditis in recent European survey
What to do when the cultures are negative
Blood cultures negative in 14%, delaying diagnosis
and the start of treatment
Commonly related to previous antibiotics
administration
Fastidiuos pathogens: Legionella, Coxiella, the
HACEK gp(Haemophilus sp., Actinobacillus
actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium
hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella
kingae)
Fungi: Candida, Histoplasma, and Aspergillus sp.
What to do when the cultures are negative
Serological testing‐ possibility of Coxiella
burnetti and Bartonella infection
Histological techniques
Polymerase chain reaction, to detect fastidious
and non‐culturable agents
Echocardiography
Transthoracic
Transesophageal
Ix potential Cx: mechanism of significant
valvular regurg
perivalvular abscesses
Diagnostic criteria
Von Ryen criteria: published in early 1980’s
Duke criteria: 1990s
Modified Duke criteria: in the latest guidelines
from ESC
Modified Duke criteria
Pathological criteria
Positive histology or microbiology of pathological material obtained at
autopsy or cardiac surgery
Major criteria
Two positive blood cultures showing typical organisms consistent with
infective endocarditis, such as Streptococcus viridans and the HACEK
group OR
Persistent bacteraemia from 2 blood cultures taken > 12 hours apart or 3
or more positive blood cultures where the pathogen is less specific, such
as Staphylococcus aureus and Stap epidermidis OR
Positive serology for Coxiella burnetti, Bartonella species, or Chlamydia
psittaci OR
Positive molecular assays for specific gene targets
Antimicrobial treatment
Choice and length of treatment
dictated by pathogen isolated from cultures
require collaboration of microbiologist and physician
Factors to consider for empirical treatment:
patient related risk factors
local bacterial resistance pattern
Switch to appropriate antibiotic as soon as cultures and sensitivites are
available
Treatment duration: 4 to 6 weeks
Special subgroups
Prosthetic valves
Incidence: 0.1 to 2.3% per year
10‐15% of the cases
TOE almost always indicated
Classifications:
Early
Late
Early onset: Staphylococci predominate
Late onset: mirrors that of native valve endocarditis
Complications:
common
aortic root abscess
Special subgroups
Prosthetic valves
Treatment: difficult
prolonged antibiotics
surgery when needed, is technically demanding
Overall mortality:
40‐50%
Specialist care mandatory
Special subgroups
Intravenous drug users
Incidence: 1‐5% a year
rising in UK
Equal frequency on right sided and left sided
Most common pathogen: Staph aureus
Problems: Management difficulties
recurrence high
cardiac surgeons reluctancy to operate
mortality high
Who needs surgery
Surgery‐ potentially life saving
Outcome related to:
valvular regurgitation
abscess formation
heart failure
embolic complications
Rarely vegetations cause valve obstruction
Overall, surgery is needed in appr. 50% of the cases
Careful timing essential for good outcome
Who needs surgery
Urgent surgery should be considered:
Haemodynamic compromise due to valve destruction
Persistent fever despite appropriate antibiotic treatment
Development of abscesses or fistulae due to perivalvular spread of
infection
Involvement of highly resistant organisms
PVE (particularly in the early postoperative phase)
Large vegetations with high embolic potential (> 10 mm or on the mitral
valve
Prophylaxis