Acute bacterial endocarditis following burns: case report and review.
Acute bacterial endocarditis (ABE) is a rare but deadly complication following major thermal injury. Typically the presentation is silent, with persistent fever and positive blood cultures being the only consistent findings. Fibrin-platelet vegetations on the valvular endocardium are thought to be seeded during bacteremic episodes. Manipulation of the burn wound is probably the most likely source of bacteremia, with Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacilli being the most commonly implicated bacteria. In addition to causing local damage to a valve or the myocardium, infected vegetations may dislodge septic emboli systemically. Diagnosis is most easily obtained by echocardiography. Treatment usually involves prolonged administration of intravenous antibiotics. In rare circumstances, valvular resection and replacement may be indicated.
Department of Surgery, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
R C
RC
Cartotto
D B
DB
Macdonald
S M
SM
Wasan
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents