HACEK endocarditis in infants and children: two cases and a literature review.
We report 2 cases of Haemophilus parainfluenzae endocarditis and review 34 cases of HACEK endocarditis from the literature. HACEK organisms are the most common cause of Gram-negative endocarditis in children. They have a propensity to form friable vegetations (especially H. parainfluenzae) that break off and cause symptomatic emboli. HACEK endocarditis (from a review of the 36 published cases) may involve previously normal hearts (33%), may be complicated by embolization (31%) and may require vegetectomy or other surgery (31%). Mortality with HACEK endocarditis was 14%. HACEK organisms may be resistant to penicillins but are susceptible to third generation cephalosporins.
Feder
Henry M
HM
Division of Infectious Disease, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA. Feder@nso2.uchc.edu
Roberts
Jenna C
JC
Salazar
Juan  C
J
Leopold
Harris B
HB
Toro-Salazar
Olga
O
D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000145:classification*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002443:Ceftriaxone