Dramatic reduction in infective endocarditis-related mortality with a management-based approach.
BACKGROUND
Despite improvements in medical and surgical therapy, infective endocarditis (IE) is still associated with a severe prognosis and remains a therapeutic challenge. We aimed to evaluate the impact of a standardized diagnostic and therapeutic protocol on mortality and to correlate the outcome with compliance with our management-based protocol.


METHODS
We conducted an observational before-after study that included 333 consecutive patients treated for IE at a referral center from 1991 to 2006, which was divided into 2 periods: period 1 (1991-2001), before implementation of our therapeutic protocol (n = 173), and period 2 (2002-2006), after implementation of our protocol (n = 160). Our protocol was created by a multidisciplinary task force including a sampling of biological specimens, the use of only 4 antimicrobial agents, a standardized duration of treatment, standardized surgical indications, and 1 year of close follow-up. Because our protocol was based on a local consensus by physicians and surgeons, it was not possible to randomize the study.


RESULTS
The 1-year mortality significantly decreased from 18.5% during period 1 to 8.2% during period 2 (hazard ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.79 [P = .008]). After multivariable analysis, the management during period 2 remained a strong protective factor (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.26; 95% confidence interval, 0.09-0.76 [P = .01]). During period 2, we observed a statistically significantly better compliance in antimicrobial therapy and fewer cases of renal failure. Deaths by embolic events and multiple organ failure syndrome also significantly decreased during period 2.


CONCLUSIONS
A dramatic reduction in mortality was observed during this study, suggesting that a management-based approach has a significant impact on IE outcome.
Botelho-Nevers
Elisabeth
E
Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unite Mixte de Recherche 6236, Institut Fédératif de Recherche 48, Université de la Méditerranée, 13385 Marseille CEDEX 5, France.
Thuny
Franck
F
Casalta
Jean Paul
JP
Richet
Hervé
H
Gouriet
Frédérique
F
Collart
Frédéric
F
Riberi
Alberto
A
Habib
Gilbert
G
Raoult
Didier
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged