A new risk factor for infective endocarditis.
Body piercing has become an increasingly common practice in recent decades, especially among young people. However, it is not a completely safe procedure and may have serious complications such as infective endocarditis, which can occur in individuals with or without previous heart disease. In this paper we report a case of endocarditis after body piercing in a young woman with a pacemaker who needed surgical intervention. We also review cases of endocarditis after piercing described in the literature. Now that the recommendations of the American Heart Association for prophylaxis of infective endocarditis are more restricted, we discuss the need for inclusion of body piercings among procedures requiring prophylactic therapy in high-risk individuals.
Toste
Alexandra
A
Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Marta, Lisboa, Portugal.
Ferreira
Lurdes
L
Oliveira
José Alberto
JA
Feliciano
Joana
J
Conceição
José
J
Baquero
Luís
L
Freitas
António
A
Freitas
Paulo
P
Fragata
José
J
Ferreira
Rui Cruz
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D046288:Body Piercing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors