Am J Ther. 2026 Jan-Feb 01;33(1):e1-e14. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000002094.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis is a severe cardiac infection disease with high morbidity and mortality, remained largely unchanged over the past 2 decades with an increased incidence in the last years.
STUDY QUESTION: Was to evaluate the main causes of increased incidence and antibiotic resistance and the role of biomarkers in infective endocarditis.
STUDY DESIGN: Patients with infective endocarditis admitted in Cardiology Department were evaluated regarding the annual incidence and characteristics in the last 8 years, to identify the causes of the increased incidence of this disease.
MEASURES AND OUTCOMES: We enrolled 178 patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis admitted in hospital in the last 8 years. The data included patient's demographic data, medical history, presence of preexisting risk, or associated systemic diseases.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Infective endocarditis was diagnosed twice as frequently in urban areas with two-thirds of patients being male and 4 of 5 patients being older than 60 years. The most common disease associated was previous valvopathies and the most affected aortic native valve in 1 of 5 cases. Inflammation markers were predictive for diagnosis, complication, and prognosis in patients with IE. The highest frequencies pathogens were Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. Two-thirds of patients needed reserve antibiotics such as glycopeptides and/or carbapenems because of antibiotic resistance. The predictors for in-hospital mortality were the following: old age, heart and renal failure, markers of organ dysfunction, persistence of infection, and high inflammatory markers.
CONCLUSIONS: Infective endocarditis was diagnosed more frequently in urban areas, in male, and those aged older than 60 years. Previous valvopathies was most common associated disease, and aortic native valve was the most affected. Persistent infection and inflammation were predictors for bad prognosis in patients with infective endocarditis. The top 3 highest frequencies pathogens were Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp., and an increase in antibiotic resistance has been recorded.
PMID:41505159 | DOI:10.1097/MJT.0000000000002094