The Bacterial Profile of Aortic Infectious Endocards: Experience of the Cardiology Department, Mohammed VI University Hospital of Marrakech, Morocco

Introduction: Infective endocarditis is defined as infection of a native or prosthetic heart valve, endocardial surface, or cardiac device. The causes and epidemiology, as well as the microbiology of the disease have evolved over the last few decades with the doubling of the average age of patients and an increased prevalence in patients with indwelling cardiac devices. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study, including all subjects over 20 years of age who presented with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve, hospitalized between January 2019 and December 2022, in the Department of Cardiology and Vascular Diseases at ERRAZI Hospital-Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakech. Clinical, paraclinical and therapeutic data were collected for each case using an exploitation form. Results: Over the study period, 46 patients had presented with aortic positional AR, with a sex ratio that was equal to 1.8. The mean age of the patients was 43±12.5 years. Endocarditis on aortic prosthesis was found in 15%. The valves were rheumatic in 85%. The presumed portal of entry was cutaneous in 45%, oral and ENT in 33%, urinary in 15%, and digestive in 7%. In our series, 21 out of 26 patients presented a biological inflammatory syndrome. At least one or more blood cultures were positive in 38% of cases. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was the most common germ in aortic infective endocarditis, found in 40% of positive blood cultures. All the patients in our series had received a combination of broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic therapy, initially probabilistic, taking into consideration the portal of entry. Adapted after antibiogram results. The evolution during the hospitalization, was marked by an improvement of the clinical state in only 12%, a perioperative death in 38%, and a worsening of the clinical state in 50%, with an average duration of hospitalization of 14 days. In our series, 60% of the patients with positive blood cultures died, whereas there was 75% survival in the group with negative blood cultures. Conclusion: Infective endocarditis is a serious disease because of its high morbidity and mortality. Despite improvements in diagnostic testing, antimicrobial therapy, and surgical intervention, changes in the epidemiology of IE, including the increase in healthcare-associated infections and the virulence of staphylococcus aureus as the causative organism, increase the risk of complications and death in the acute phase of IE. Action must be taken to prevent infective endocarditis, especially in this rheumatically endemic area.

A case report of bacterial endocarditis with complicated intracranial complications / 中华神经科杂志

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infectious disease that affects the inner surface of the heart. Its first symptom often manifests as a localized neurological deficit, which can conceal the diagnosis of IE and delay the treatment. Here is a report of a severe case of IE with complicated central nervous system complications admitted to the First Hospital of Jilin University, so as to improve clinicians′ attention to the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions.

Clinical characteristics of 425 cases with infective endocarditis / 中华传染病杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical features of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) and to improve the awareness of this disease.Methods:A total of 425 IE patients hospitalized in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2011 to December 2018 were included in this study. The clinical features, predisposing cardiac diseases, pathogens and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. The binary logistic regression model was adopted to analyze the risk factors.Results:Among 425 IE patients, the median period from onset of disease to diagnosis was 10 weeks. Fever (423 cases, 99.5%) and cardiac murmur (372 cases, 87.5%) were the most common clinical manifestations. Congestive heart failure (219 cases, 51.5%) and embolism (158 cases, 37.2%) were the most common complications. Two hundred and fifty (58.8%) patients had predisposing cardiac diseases with congenital heart diseases (121 cases, 28.5%) as the leading cause. Vegetations were found in 410(96.5%) patients through echocardiography and surgery. Totally 343(80.7%) patients got a positive pathogen test with Streptococcus viridans accounted for 59.5%(204/343) as the major pathogen of IE.All 425 patients received antimicrobial therapy, 342(80.5%) patients received surgery, among them 332 cases (97.1%) were early surgery, and the in-hospital mortality rate was 4.5%(19/425). Logistic regression analysis showed that New York heart function assessment Ⅲ/Ⅳ (odds ratio ( OR)=3.40, 95% confidence interval ( CI) 1.30 to 11.68), cerebral embolism ( OR=4.45, 95% CI 1.50 to 13.22) and septic shock ( OR=19.41, 95% CI 3.81 to 99.02) were independent risk factors for in-hospital death(all P<0.050), while surgery was an independent protective factor against in-hospital death ( OR=0.15, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.47, P=0.001). Conclusions:There is still a significant delay in the diagnosis of IE. Physicians should be alert to IE. Multiple sets of blood cultures should be obtained before administration of antibiotics, and echocardiography should be performed in all patients with suspected IE as soon as possible. Bactericidal antimicrobial therapy and early surgery in patients with indications are critical aspects in the management of IE patients.

Caries Experience and Knowledge About Oral Health Importance Among Children with Congenital Heart Diseases in Kosovo

Abstract Objective: To determine the dental health of children with Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) and to evaluate the parents' knowledge of the importance of oral health and the risk of Bacterial Endocarditis. Material and Methods: This research included 140 children divided into the study group (80 children with CHD) and the control group (60 healthy children). The children were from different parts of Kosova, aged between 3-15. The parents were asked to complete a questionnaire containing demographic data (age and gender), general and special medical history (CHD types), knowledge about oral health importance and risk of bacterial endocarditis, and data about the daily oral hygiene child. The caries experience was reported using the DMFT/dmft index. Results: The average value of the dmft index was 6.7 for the study group and 5.62 for the control group, while the average value of DMFT index for the study group was 4.1, and for the control group was 3.47 (p>0.05). About 68.7% of parents of children with CHD were informed about their risk during dental interventions. However, knowledge was insufficient about the importance of oral health and dental prophylactic measures once only 32.7% of them were aware of those measures. Conclusion: No difference was observed between healthy and CHD children in caries experience and frequency of daily tooth brushing. Our findings provide evidence of a lack of knowledge about the importance of oral health and dental prophylactic measures among parents with CHD children (AU).

Caracterización de pacientes con endocarditis infecciosa / Characterization of patients with infective endocarditis

RESUMEN Introducción: la endocarditis infecciosa es una enfermedad mortal. A pesar de las mejoras en su manejo, se asocia a una elevada mortalidad y complicaciones graves. Objetivo: caracterizar los pacientes diagnosticados con EI en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Celia Sánchez Manduley, en el período de enero de 2015 a diciembre de 2020. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente Celia Sánchez Manduley, en el período de enero de 2015 a diciembre de 2020. La población en estudio la constituyeron los 34 pacientes diagnosticados según los criterios de Duke modificados. Las variables utilizadas fueron: edad, sexo, válvula afectada, localización, estado al egreso, manifestaciones clínicas y exámenes complementarios practicados. Mediante la estadística descriptiva se realizó el cálculo de frecuencia absoluta, media aritmética con desviación estándar y cálculo porcentual. Las variables cuantitativas fueron comparadas según la t de Student. Resultados: el grupo etario más afectado fue el de 61 - 70, sin diferencias entre sexos. Los casos asociados a dispositivos intracardiacos prevalecieron. Se determinaron valores de hemoglobina (105,2g/dL DE±13,0), leucograma (16,8mmol/L DE±0,2), Proteína C reactiva (96,2mg/L DE±3,2), eritrosedimentación (101,0 mm/h DE±20,1), y creatinina (149,0 mmol/L DE±24,3). En el 59 % de los casos no se pudo determinar agente causal. Conclusiones: la endocarditis infecciosa es más frecuente en adultos mayores sin distinción de sexos. Predominan los casos con dispositivos intracardiacos, los cuales en su mayoría presentan valores elevados de leucograma eritrosedimentación, creatinina y de Proteína C reactiva. En la mayoría, los hemocultivos resultaron negativos.

ABSTRACT Introduction: infective endocarditis is a fatal disease. Despite improvements in its management, it is still associated with high mortality rate and severe complications. Objective: to characterize patients diagnosed with infective endocarditis. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted at Celia Sanchez Manduley Clinical-surgical Teaching Hospital, in the period from January 2015 to December 2020. The study population comprised 34 patients diagnosed according to the modified Duke criteria. The variables analyzed were: age, sex, affected valve, and location, status at discharge, clinical manifestations and complementary examinations performed. Descriptive statistics was applied to calculate absolute frequency, arithmetic mean with standard deviation and percentage calculation. Quantitative variables were compared according to Student's t test. Results: the most affected age group was 61 - 70, with no differences between sexes. Cases associated with intracardiac devices prevailed. Hemoglobin (105,2g/dL DE±13,0), leukogram (16,8mmol/L DE±0,2), C-reactive protein (96,2mg/L DE±3.2), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (101,0 mm/h DE±20,1), and creatinine (149,0 mmol/L DE±24,3) were determined. In 59 % of the cases no causative agent could be determined. Conclusions: infective endocarditis is more frequent in older adults without distinction of sex. Cases with Intracardiac devices predominate, most of them presenting elevated values of leukogram, erythrocyte sedimentation, creatinine and C-reactive protein. Blood cultures were negative in most cases.

Kissing lesion of mitral valve - a case report

Abstract Aortic valve endocarditis can lead to secondary involvement of aorto-mitral curtain and the adjacent anterior mitral leaflet (AML). The secondary damage to AML is often caused by the infected jet of aortic regurgitation hitting the ventricular surface of the mitral leaflet, or by the pronounced bacterial vegetation that prolapses from the aortic valve into the left ventricular outflow tract. This is called 'kissing lesion'. We describe a patient with infective endocarditis of the aortic valve causing perforation of both noncoronary cusp of aortic valve and the AML, which is rare.

Surgical options for aortic root replacement in destructive endocarditis

Abstract Objective: To analyze patients' preoperative characteristics, surgical data, postoperative courses, and short- and long-term outcomes after implantation of different full-root prostheses for destructive aortic valve endocarditis. Methods: Between 1999 and 2018, 80 patients underwent aortic root replacement due to infective endocarditis in our institution. We analyzed the abovementioned data with standard statistical methods. Results: The Freestyle stentless porcine prostheses were implanted in 53 (66.25%) patients, biological valve conduits in 13 (16.25%), aortic root homografts in nine (11.25%), and mechanical valve conduits in five (6.25%). There were no significant preoperative differences between the groups. The incidence of postoperative complications and intensive care unit length of stay did not differ significantly between the groups. The 30-day mortality rate was low among Freestyle patients (n=8, 15.1%) and high in the mechanical conduit cohort (n=3, 60%), though with borderline statistical significance (P=0.055). The best mean survival rates were observed after homograft (13.7 years) and stentless prosthesis (8.1 years) implantation, followed by biological (2.8 years) and mechanical (1.4 years) conduits (P=0.014). The incidence of reoperations was low in the mechanical conduit group (0) and stentless bioroot group (n=1, 1.9%), but two (15.4%) patients with biological conduits and three (33.3%) patients with homografts required reoperations in the investigated follow-up period (P=0.005). Conclusion: In patients with the destructive form of aortic valve endocarditis, homografts and stentless porcine xenografts offer better survival rates than stented valve conduits; however, the reoperation rate among patients who received homograft valves is high.

Association between Insulin use and Infective Endocarditis: An Observational Study

Abstract Background: The association between Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and Infective Endocarditis (IE) is controversial in the literature, since many controversial results have been published. However, when evaluating specifically the evidence on IE and individuals with DM using insulin, we found only two observational studies that considered this variable, with discordant results regarding the prognosis and prevalence of Staphylococcus sp in insulin users compared to non-users. Despite the lack of evidence, in clinical practice the insulin use could be interpreted as minor criteria "injection drug use", using the modified Duke criteria for IE diagnosis. Objectives: To compare the microbiological and valvar profile, as well as the outcome of non-diabetic and diabetic patients with IE who were insulin users or not. Methods: This was an observational, analytical and retrospective study of patients diagnosed with IE between 2003 and 2015 in three tertiary care centers. A total of 211 patients were included, of which 17 were diabetics and 9 were insulin users. Patients were compared using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test and Fisher's exact test, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The mortality from IE in diabetic individuals was higher than that of non-diabetic patients, but with no statistical significance (35.29% vs. 21.1%; p = 0.221), even when the groups were divided into insulin-user diabetic, non-insulin user diabetic and non-diabetic patients (33.3% vs. 37.5% vs. 21.1%, p = 0.229). There was a difference regarding the prevalence of IE caused by S. aureus (57.1% vs. 14.3% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.029) and the involvement of the tricuspid valve (33.3% vs. 0.00% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.034) among insulin users. Conclusion: In our sample, insulin use or the presence of DM did not mean higher in-hospital mortality from IE. It is not possible to generalize the microbiological and valvar findings due to the lack of studies evaluating insulin users in IE; however, particularities have been previously reported and may indicate a different behavior of IE in these patients. New studies considering the insulin use variable are required to elucidate the association between DM and IE.

Risk Factors for In-Hospital Mortality in Infective Endocarditis / Fatores de Risco para Mortalidade Hospitalar na Endocardite Infecciosa

Abstract Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with severe complications and high mortality. The assessment of mortality rates and predictors for fatal events is important to identify modifiable factors related to the pattern of treatment, in order to improve outcomes. Objectives: We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes of patients with IE and to determine predictors of in-hospital mortality. Methods: Retrospective single-center study including patients with IE admitted during a 10-year period (2006-2015). Data on comorbidities, clinical presentation, microbiology and clinical outcomes during hospitalization were evaluated. Risk factors of in-hospital death were analyzed. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 134 cases were included (73% males, mean age of 61 ± 16 years-old). Half of them had previous valvular heart disease. Healthcare-associated IE and negative blood-cultures occurred in 22% and prosthetic IE in 25%. The aortic valve was the one most often affected by infection. Staphylococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated microorganism. Forty-four (32.8%) patients underwent cardiac surgery. The in-hospital mortality rate was 31.3% (42 patients). The identified risk factors for in-hospital mortality were Staphylococcus aureus etiology (OR 6.47; 95% CI: 1.07-39.01; p = 0.042), negative blood-cultures (OR 9.14; 95% CI: 1.42-58.77; p = 0.02), evidence of valve obstruction in echocardiography (OR 8.57; 95% CI: 1.11-66.25; p = 0.039), clinical evolution with heart failure (OR 4.98; 95%CI: 1.31-18.92; p = 0.018) or septic shock (OR 20.26; 95% CI: 4.04-101.74; p < 0.001). Cardiac surgery was a protective factor of mortality (OR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03-0.65; p = 0.012). Conclusion: The risk factors for in-hospital mortality were clinical (heart failure, septic shock), evidence of valve obstruction in echocardiography, Staphylococcus aureus etiology or negative blood cultures. Invasive treatment by surgery significantly decreased the mortality risk.

Resumo Fundamento: A endocardite infecciosa (EI) está associada a complicações graves e alta mortalidade. A avaliação das taxas de mortalidade e preditores de eventos fatais é importante para identificar fatores modificáveis relacionados ao padrão de tratamento, com o objetivo de melhorar os desfechos. Objetivos: Avaliar os desfechos clínicos de pacientes com EI e determinar preditores de mortalidade hospitalar. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo de centro único, incluindo pacientes com EI admitidos durante um período de 10 anos (2006-2015). Foram avaliados dados de comorbidades, apresentação clínica, microbiologia e desfechos clínicos durante a internação. Foram analisados os fatores de risco de morte hospitalar. Um valor de p < 0,05 foi considerado significativo. Resultados: Foram incluídos 134 casos (73% do sexo masculino, média de idade de 61 ± 16 anos). Metade dos casos apresentava cardiopatia valvar prévia. A EI associada a cuidados de saúde e hemoculturas negativas ocorreram em 22%, e a EI associada a prótese em 25%. A válvula aórtica foi a mais frequentemente afetada por infecção. Staphylococcus aureus foi o microrganismo mais comumente isolado. Quarenta e quatro (32,8%) pacientes foram submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca. A taxa de mortalidade hospitalar foi de 31,3% (42 pacientes). Os fatores de risco identificados para mortalidade hospitalar foram etiologia do Staphylococcus aureus (OR 6,47; IC 95%: 1,07-39,01; p = 0,042), hemoculturas negativas (OR 9,14; IC 95%: 1,42-58,77; p = 0,02), evidência de obstrução valvar na ecocardiografia (OR 8,57; IC 95%: 1,11-66,25; p = 0,039), evolução clínica com insuficiência cardíaca (OR 4,98; IC 95%: 1,31-18,92; p = 0,018) ou choque séptico (OR 20,26; IC 95%: 4,04-101,74; p < 0,001). A cirurgia cardíaca foi um fator protetor de mortalidade (OR 0,14; IC95%: 0,03-0,65; p = 0,012). Conclusão: Os fatores de risco para mortalidade hospitalar foram clínicos (insuficiência cardíaca, choque séptico), evidência de obstrução valvar no ecocardiograma, etiologia do Staphylococcus aureus ou hemoculturas negativas. O tratamento invasivo por cirurgia diminuiu significativamente o risco de mortalidade.

Clinical features and maternal and infant outcomes of right-sided infective endocarditis during pregnancy: a case report and literature review / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical features, treatment strategies, and maternal and infant outcomes of pregnancy complicated by right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) to provide evidence for clinical management.@*Methods@#By searching literature on RSIE during pregnancy from the databases of CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP, CBM, PubMed, OVID, EMbase and ScienceDirect, relevant information were collected to analyze the clinical manifestations, risk factors, positions of intracardiac vegetations, results of blood culture, treatment strategies and maternal and infant outcomes of RSIE.@*Results@#A total of 15 articles were retrieved, involving 18 infected gravidas with the average age of (27.7±4.8) years and average gestational age at onset of (27.8±6.9) weeks. Fever (n=14), cough (n=12), anemia (n=8) and shortness of breath or dyspnea (n=8) were the common symptoms. Cardiac murmurs were detected on auscultation in seven cases, of which six were systolic murmurs and one was unspecified. Heart sounds of five cases were clear on auscultation without any murmurs. Nine cases were complicated by pulmonary embolism and five by heart failure. The major risk factors were congenital heart diseases (10/18) and intravenous drug abuse (6/18). Vegetations were commonly seen on the tricuspid valves (10/18), followed by the pulmonary valves (4/18). The rate of positive blood culture was high (15/16) with Staphylococcus (9/15) and Streptococcus (3/15) being the primary pathogens. Most pregnancies were timely ended by cesarean section. Apart from receiving fundamental antibiotic therapy for infective endocarditis, 11 patients underwent cardiac surgery, including vegetation removal, valve repair or replacement and surgery for congenital heart diseases, before or after pregnancy or during cesarean section based on their gestational age, condition, and cardiopulmonary function. There was no maternal death, but one neonatal death was reported due to severe asphyxia following cesarean section at 28 weeks. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were good during follow-up.@*Conclusions@#Pregnancy complicated by RSIE is rare and complex, requiring early diagnosis and individualized treatment. Adequate and full-course antibiotic therapy, appropriate surgical procedures and timely termination are of great importance for improving maternal and infant outcomes.

Clinical features and maternal and infant outcomes of right-sided infective endocarditis during pregnancy:a case report and literature review / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical features,treatment strategies,and maternal and infant outcomes of pregnancy complicated by right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) to provide evidence for clinical management.Methods By searching literature on RSIE during pregnancy from the databases of CNKI,Wanfang Database,VIP,CBM,PubMed,OVID,EMbase and ScienceDirect,relevant information were collected to analyze the clinical manifestations,risk factors,positions of intracardiac vegetations,results of blood culture,treatment strategies and maternal and infant outcomes of RSIE.Results A total of 15 articles were retrieved,involving 18 infected gravidas with the average age of (27.7 ± 4.8) years and average gestational age at onset of (27.8 ± 6.9) weeks.Fever (n=1 4),cough (n=1 2),anemia (n=8) and shortness of breath or dyspnea (n=8) were the common symptoms.Cardiac murmurs were detected on auscultation in seven cases,of which six were systolic murmurs and one was unspecified.Heart sounds of five cases were clear on auscultation without any murmurs.Nine cases were complicated by pulmonary embolism and five by heart failure.The major risk factors were congenital heart diseases (10/18) and intravenous drug abuse (6/18).Vegetations were commonly seen on the tricuspid valves (10/18),followed by the pulmonary valves (4/18).The rate of positive blood culture was high (15/16) with Staphylococcus (9/15) and Streptococcus (3/15) being the primary pathogens.Most pregnancies were timely ended by cesarean section.Apart from receiving fundamental antibiotic therapy for infective endocarditis,1 1 patients underwent cardiac surgery,including vegetation removal,valve repair or replacement and surgery for congenital heart diseases,before or after pregnancy or during cesarean section based on their gestational age,condition,and cardiopulmonary function.There was no maternal death,but one neonatal death was reported due to severe asphyxia following cesarean section at 28 weeks.Maternal and neonatal outcomes were good during follow-up.Conclusions Pregnancy complicated by RSIE is rare and complex,requiring early diagnosis and individualized treatment.Adequate and full-course antibiotic therapy,appropriate surgical procedures and timely termination are of great importance for improving maternal and infant outcomes.

Post-mortem findings in Staphylococcus aureus acute infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a microbial infection of the heart valves or the mural endocardium that leads to the formation of vegetations composed of thrombotic debris and microorganisms often associated with the destruction of the cardiac tissues. Most of the infections are bacterial (bacterial endocarditis), although fungi and other microorganisms can be etiological agents. Causative organisms differ among the major high-risk groups. Virulent microorganisms like Staphylococcus aureus, commonly found on the skin, can infect normal or deformed valves and are responsible for 20-30% of all IE cases. Staphylococcus aureus is the major offender in IE among intravenous drug abusers. Acute infective endocarditis is typically caused by infection of a previously normal heart valve by a highly virulent organism (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) that rapidly produces necrotizing and destructive lesions. These infections may be difficult to cure with antibiotics, and despite appropriate treatment, death can ensue within days to weeks. Here we present autopsy findings of a 31-year-old male patient who died of acute infective endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus as the causative organism.

Sobrevida a 10 años de pacientes egresados luego de cirugía por endocarditis infecciosa en un hospital público / Hospital mortality and long-term survival of 103 patients with infective endocarditis requiring surgery

Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious disease with high mortality, especially among the most severe cases undergoing surgery. Aim To analyze the clinical features, perioperative mortality and long-term survival of patients with infective endocarditis requiring surgery. Material and Methods Review of medical records of patients who underwent heart valve surgery for active infective endocarditis in a public hospital between 1995 and 2008. Demographic characteristics and comorbidities were described. Perioperative and 10 year survival were analyzed retrieving death certificates from the Chilean Identification Service. Results Data from 103 patients aged 46 ± 14 years (74% males) was analyzed. Thirty five percent of patients had an underlying predisposing heart condition such as congenital heart disease in 18.5% and prosthetic valves in 10%. The most common location was the aortic valve and the most common surgical procedure was heart valve replacement with a mechanical prosthetic valve in 87% of the cases. Pathogen identification in blood cultures was achieved in 48% of the cases. The most common causative microorganisms were S. aureus in 12%, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in 11%, S. viridans in 10% and Enterococcus in 7%. Hospital mortality was 20.4% and ten-year survival was 65%. Conclusions Patients with severe IE requiring surgical treatment still have high perioperative and late mortality.

Infectious endocarditis by Bartonella species: report of two cases / Endocarditis infecciosa por Bartonella: descripción de dos casos en Chile

ABSTRACT Infectious endocarditis (IE) by Bartonella species is an emerging problem worldwide. We report two cases of native valve Bartonella-associated IE events, both affecting adult male patients with a history of alcohol abuse and a low socioeconomic status. Admissions were due to pancytopenia and bleeding in one case and embolic stroke in the other. Blood cultures were negative and IgG indirect immunofluorescence assays (IFA) were positive for B. henselae/B. quintana in high titers (1/16,384-1/16,384, and 1/32,768 -1/16,384, respectively). Cases were classified as definitive IE events according to modified Duke criteria due to the presence of valve vegetations with at least three minor criteria. One patient required aortic mechanical valve replacement and survived, and the other died after a massive hemorrhagic transformation of his stroke. PCR amplification and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal bacterial DNA from a valve tissue sample obtained at surgery in the patient who survived, confirmed B. quintana as the etiological agent. Bartonella-associated IE is an emerging problem in Chile, present in disadvantaged populations. It should be suspected in patients with culture-negative IE. IFA does not discriminate between B. henselae and B. quintana infection, but high titers suggest IE. Complementary PCR techniques may help to elucidate the final causative agent.

La endocarditis infecciosa(EI) asociada a Bartonella es un problema emergente a nivel mundial. Publicamos los 2 primeros casos de EI en válvula nativa asociados a Bartonella en Chile, los que afectaron a pacientes masculinos con historia de consumo de alcohol y bajos ingresos. La hospitalización fue provocada por pancitopenia y hemorragias en un caso y por un evento cerebrovascular en el otro. Se solicitó serología para Bartonella por inmunofluorescencia indirecta (IFI) para ampliar el estudio ante hemocultivos negativos y en ambos casos se reportaron resultados intensamente positivos para B. henselae y B. quintana1/16.384-1/16.384 y 1/32.768 -1/16.384, respectivamente). Los casos se clasificaron como eventos definitivos de EI según los criterios modificados de Duke debido a la presencia de vegetaciones valvulares con al menos 3 criterios menores. Un paciente requirió reemplazo valvular aórtico y sobrevivió, y el otro falleció tras una transformación hemorrágica masiva del infarto cerebral. La amplificación del ADN ribosomal 16S por RCP y posterior secuenciación de una muestra de tejido valvular confirmó la presencia de B. quintana. La EI por Bartonella sp. es un problema emergente en Chile, probablemente asociada a poblaciones desfavorecidas, la que debe ser sospechada en pacientes con cultivos negativos. La IFI no permite discriminar infecciones por B. henselae o B. quintana pero los títulos altos sugieren EI. Técnicas complementarias por RCP pueden ayudar a dilucidar el diagnóstico.

Endocarditis infecciosa a Staphylococcus caprae con múltiples embolias preoperatorias graves y vegetación mitral gigante residual / Infectious endocarditis to Staphylococcus caprae with multiple severe preoperative embolisms and residual giant mitral vegetation / Endocardite infecciosa para Staphylococcus caprae com múltiplos embolismos pré-operatórios severos e vegetação mitral gigante residual

Resumen: La endocarditis infecciosa (EI) es una enfermedad infrecuente, heterogénea en su presentación, con una alta mortalidad global y frecuente indicación de cirugía cardíaca. Presentamos el caso de una joven con EI a S. caprae y múltiples embolias preoperatorias graves. Dado que se presenta al ingreso con infección en curso, absceso esplénico y vegetación remanente de muy alto riesgo embólico, plantea un dilema terapéutico en cuanto a oportunidad quirúrgica y orden en que deben resolverse las complicaciones de su enfermedad infecciosa. En este caso se procedió a cirugía vascular, posteriormente esplenectomía y por último cirugía valvular, todas en breve plazo, logrando resolver la patología integralmente y sin complicaciones.

Summary: Infective endocarditis is an infrequent disease, heterogeneous presentation, with high mortality, and frequent indication of heart surgery. We introduce the case of a young woman, with S. caprae infective endocarditis, and multiple preoperative serious emboli. Since she presents at admission with infection in progress, splenic abscess and mitral vegetation with high embolic risk, it poses a therapeutic dilemma regarding surgical opportunity and the order in which the complications should be resolved. In this case we proceeded to vascular surgery, then splenectomy and finally valve surgery, all in a short time, to solve the pathology integrally and without complications.

Resumo: A endocardite infecciosa é uma doença infrequente, de apresentação heterogênea, com alta mortalidade e frequente indicação de cirurgia cardíaca. Apresentamos o caso de uma jovem mulher com endocardite infecciosa a S. caprae e múltiplos êmbolos pré-operatórios graves. Por se apresentar na admissão com infecção em curso, abscesso esplênico e vegetação mitral com alto risco embólico, apresenta um dilema terapêutico em relação à oportunidade cirúrgica e a ordem em que as complicações devem ser resolvidas. Neste caso precedeu à cirurgia vascular, depois à esplenectomia e finalmente à cirurgia valvar, tudo em um curto espaço de tempo, para resolver integralmente a patologia e sem complicações.

Clinical analysis of misdiagnosis of Behcet's disease with echocardiography / 中国医学影像技术

Objective: To analyze the echocardiographic features of Behcet's disease misdiagnosed as infective endocarditis and the causes of misdiagnosis. Methods: Clinical data of patients with Behcet's disease involving cardiovascular system were analyzed retrospectively and the clinical and echocardiographic features of these patients were summarized. Results: Among the 12 patients with Behcet's disease, 9 cases were preoperative cardiac surgery patients and 3 cases were postoperative cardiac surgery patients. All the 9 patients showed severe aortic regurgitation, including 3 cases with aortic perivalvular abscess, 4 cases with aortic valve vegetation, 2 cases with aortic perivalvular abscess and vegetation formation. Perivalvular leakage of aortic valve was found in 3 patients after cardiac surgery, including 1 case of aortic valve vegetation formation, 1 case of perivalvular abscess, 1 case of perivalvular abscess and vegetation formation. Conclusion: It is difficult to diagnose Behcet's disease combined with aortic valve insufficiency with vegetation-like mobile lesions, an echo-free space mimicking aortic root abscess. If the patients with history of recurrent oral aphthosis, genital aphthosis or ocular lesions, the possibility of cardiac Behcet's disease should be suggested.