[The general characteristics and short- and long-term results of infective endocarditis in non-drug addicts].
OBJECTIVE
Infective endocarditis is a disease with a high morbimortality during the active phase and a considerable risk of complications during follow-up. The aim of our study is to describe the clinical and prognostic features of infective endocarditis in non-drug addict patients in short and long terms.


METHODS
A prospective study of 138 cases of infective endocarditis in non-drug addict patients through the parenteral pathway treated in our institution from 1987 to 1997.


RESULTS
The mean age was 44 +/- 20 years. Ninety-five patients (69%) had native valve infective endocarditis and forty-three (31%) had prosthetic valve endocarditis. Streptococci were the causal microorganism in 34% and staphylococci in 33%. 83% of patients developed some type of complications during hospital stay. 51% of patients were operated on during the active phase (22% were urgent). The in-hospital mortality rate was 21%. 10 patients (9%) needed late cardiac surgery and seven patients (5%) died during follow-up. Global survival at 10 years was 71%. There were no statistical differences in survival in as much as the type of treatment received during the hospital stay in the active phase (medical alone or combined medical-surgical).


CONCLUSIONS
A high early surgery rate in the active phase related to good long-term results and does not increase early in-hospital mortality. Medical treatment also offers good long-term results in cases of infectious endocarditis with absence of bad prognostic factors and good clinical outcome.
Castillo Domínguez
J C
JC
Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía de Córdoba.
Anguita Sánchez
M P
MP
Ramírez Moreno
A
A
Siles Rubio
J R
JR
Torres Calvo
F
F
Mesa Rubio
D
D
Franco Zapata
M
M
Muñoz Carvajal
I
I
Concha Ruiz
M
M
Vallés Belsué
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D013997:Time Factors