title: Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis--surgery for some but not all!
abstract: Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis was thought to be a rare disease. We reviewed our experience in four cases of this disease treated over a period of 10 years. Seventy cases reported in literature were reviewed. The outcome is good if cases are carefully selected for medical or surgical treatment. We conclude that infective endocarditis due to C. diphtheriae, is perhaps more common than expected. It may be recognized more frequently and on occasion may be an aggressive disease. Those patients with an abnormal valve (including prosthetic valves) should be subjected to surgery at the earliest available opportunity, whereas patients with normal valves may be carefully watched during the course of medical treatment as long as immediate surgery can occur if needed.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Bashisth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dignan
authors.forename: Clifford F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hendel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003353:Corynebacterium diphtheriae; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology