Bacterial endocarditis at a tertiary hospital--how do we improve diagnosis and delay of treatment? A retrospective study of 140 patients

Cardiology
A KjerulfN Høiby

Abstract

During a period of 3.5 years, endocarditis was suspected in 151 patients admitted to Rigshospitalet. 140 were available for this study. In 59 of the 140 patients, the diagnosis was confirmed, and 36 had positive blood cultures. Echocardiographic findings compatible with the diagnosis were present in 92% of the 59 cases. The most common causes of endocarditis were Staphylococcus aureus and viridans streptococci. Patients with endocarditis caused by S. aureus had significantly (p = 0.002) more embolic episodes compared to patients having endocarditis caused by the viridans streptococci. The diagnosis was established at a mean of 3-4 weeks after the onset of symptoms and 2 weeks after admission to hospital. In order to minimize diagnostic delay, the following aspects may be important: (1) earlier detection of endocarditis among physicians examining patients at risk; (2) educating patients with cardiac disease and cardiac valve prosthesis; (3) earlier antibiotic therapy, and (4) developing further diagnostics for endocarditis.

Citations

Jul 22, 2006·Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases·Cao Thach Tran, Keld Kjeldsen
Apr 28, 2009·Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases·Rasmus V RasmussenNiels E Bruun
Jun 29, 2010·FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology·Peter Østrup JensenClaus Moser
Apr 14, 2017·APMIS : Acta Pathologica, Microbiologica, Et Immunologica Scandinavica·Claus MoserPeter Østrup Jensen
Apr 4, 2012·FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology·Luanne Hall-StoodleyThomas Bjarnsholt

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