Outcome of patients with injection drug use-associated endocarditis admitted to an intensive care unit.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to study the outcome of patients with injection drug use-associated infective endocarditis (IDU-IE) admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU).


METHODS
A retrospective review of medical records of 33 consecutive patients with IDU-IE admitted to ICU was conducted.


RESULTS
Main indications for admission to ICU were as follows: severe sepsis or septic shock (36%), respiratory failure (33%), and neurologic deterioration (18%). Staphylococcus aureus was found in 94% of patients, and 15% had polymicrobial infection. Fifteen (45%) patients had septic emboli to 1 or more organs, including 12 (36%) to lungs and 7 (21%) to central nervous system. In-hospital mortality was 27%, and in univariate analysis, previous history of endocarditis (odds ratio [OR], 11.2; P = .03), respiratory failure (OR, 7; P = .03), neurologic failure (OR, 6.25; P = .03), and high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (OR, 1.21; P = .016) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (OR, 1.25; P = .01) increased risk of death. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, previous history of endocarditis and high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score were independently associated with poor survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Complicated IDU-IE necessitating admission to ICU is associated with high mortality. In addition to consequences of sepsis, septic embolization to central nervous system and lungs contributes to development of organ failure. Increased severity of illness and prior history of endocarditis are associated with poor outcome.
Saydain
Ghulam
G
Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Division, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. gsaydain@med.wayne.edu
Singh
Jatinder
J
Dalal
Bhavinkumar
B
Yoo
Wonsuk
W
Levine
Donald P
DP
D018806:APACHE; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*