title: Clinical and microbiological profiles of infective endocarditis in a tertiary hospital in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate demographic data, underlying cardiac abnormalities, clinical profile, microbiological features, treatments and complications of infective endocarditis (IE) in a tertiary hospital in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of all cases with the diagnosis of definite endocarditis according to modified Duke Criteria admitted to ACH between May 2002 and April 2007. Data were reviewed on demographic and clinical data, underlying cardiac disease, microbiological findings, treatments and complications of IE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 44 patients (28 males and 16 females; mean age 31.1 ± 16 years; range 13-65 years). Infective endocarditis developed on a native valve in 31 (70.5%), a mechanical prosthetic valve in 10 (22.7%), mitral valve prolapse in 2 (4.5%) and ventricular septal defect in 1 (2.3%). Rheumatic heart disease in 31 cases (70.5%) was the most common preexisting valvular abnormality in native valve endocarditis. The mitral valve was the most commonly affected valve 28 (63.6%). Fever occurred in 40 (90.9%) of the cases. Electrocardiography was abnormal in 34 cases (77.3%). Trans-thoracic and/or trans-esophageal echocardiography showed a vegetation in 22 (50%). Staphylococci in 10 cases (22.7%) and Streptococci in 8 cases (18%) were the most common causative agents and cultures were negative in 20 cases (45.5%). Twenty-two patients (50%) underwent surgical treatment. Congestive heart failure occurred in 16 (36.4%) cases, atrial fibrillation in 6 (13.6%) cases, and cerebrovascular accidents in 4 (9%) cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data reflects the clinical and microbiological profiles of IE in a tertiary hospital in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia.
authors: King Khalid University, College of Medicine, PO Box 641, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Abdullah S
authors: AS
authors: Assiri
keywords: Culture negative; Echocardiography; Endocarditis; Microbiologic; Prosthetic valve; Saudi Arabia; Valvular heart disease
references: Am Heart J. 2006 Feb;151(2):545-52
references: 16442929
references: Eur Heart J. 2007 Jan;28(2):196-203
references: 17158121
references: Circulation. 2005 Jun 14;111(23):e394-434
references: 15956145
references: J Infect. 2002 Nov;45(4):246-56
references: 12423613
references: Arch Intern Med. 2002 Jan 14;162(1):90-4
references: 11784225
references: Scand J Infect Dis. 2007;39(4):384
references: 17454912
references: JAMA. 2002 Jul 3;288(1):75-81
references: 12090865
references: Arch Intern Med. 2008 Oct 27;168(19):2095-103
references: 18955638
references: Ital Heart J. 2004 Apr;5(4):249-56
references: 15185882
references: World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2004;923:1-122, back cover
references: 15382606
references: Lancet. 2004 Jan 10;363(9403):139-49
references: 14726169
references: Clin Microbiol Infect. 2004 Jun;10(6):556-61
references: 15191385
references: J Aviat Med. 1957 Jun;28(3):253-9
references: 13438815
references: Mayo Clin Proc. 2000 Dec;75(12):1289-303
references: 11126839
references: Circ J. 2003 Jan;67(1):3-7
references: 12520142
references: Curr Probl Cardiol. 2007 Nov;32(11):609-61
references: 17976510
references: Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Apr;30(4):633-8
references: 10770721
references: N Z Med J. 2004 Aug 20;117(1200):U1021
references: 15475991
references: J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1995 Dec;110(6):1745-55
references: 8523887
references: Heart. 2005 May;91(5):571-5
references: 15831635
references: Curr Opin Cardiol. 2004 Mar;19(2):134-9
references: 15075740
references: N Engl J Med. 2001 Nov 1;345(18):1318-30
references: 11794152
references: Medicine (Baltimore). 2005 May;84(3):162-173
references: 15879906
references: JAMA. 2005 Jun 22;293(24):3012-21
references: 15972563
references: Eur Heart J. 1996 Feb;17(2):281-8
references: 8732383
references: Int J Infect Dis. 2007 Sep;11(5):430-3
references: 17331773