title: Q fever endocarditis in Israel and a worldwide review.
abstract: The worldwide epidemiology and population-based incidence of Q fever endocarditis (QFE) have been less well studied than those for uncomplicated Q fever. An exhaustive literature review revealed 408 patients with QFE reported between 1949 and 1994, mostly from 3 large geographic areas. Underlying valvular heart disease was almost invariably present, and 38% had prosthetic valves. The most common clinical manifestations were fever and congestive heart failure. The mortality rate dropped over the years from 65% to 25%, but a meta-analysis of published data showed the death rate to be significantly lower among patients receiving combination therapy (12/65, 18%), as compared to patients treated with tetracycline alone (18/41, 44%, p = 0.005). A 10-year (1983-1992) retrospective nationwide survey of QFE in Israel revealed 35 patients with QFE, representing an annual incidence of 0.75 cases per 1 million population. Underlying heart disease, clinical manifestations and outcome in the Israeli group were not substantially different from those described in the world literature. The current state-of-the-art clinical approach includes early diagnosis, prompt initiation of combination therapy for at least 3 years, and long-term clinical and serologic follow-up. Adherence to these rules might have contributed to the improved prognosis in recent years.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Disease Unit, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Siegman-Igra
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keysary
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rzotkiewicz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shalit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016997:Coxiella burnetii / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011778:Q Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M