Acute Q fever and the risk of developing endocarditis.
OBJECTIVE
Assess clinical and serological data as parameters indicative of a possible evolution to endocarditis after an episode of acute Q fever.


METHODS
Retrospective cohort study of evolution to endocarditis after an acute Q fever episode, analyzing the clinical and serological evolution and the antibiotic treatment administered.


RESULTS
Eighty patients were recruited, 20% of whom had phase i IgG antibody levels ≥ 1:1024 in the first 3 months. Only 44% of the patients underwent antibiotherapy in the acute phase; only 2 patients underwent extended antibiotherapy. Fifteen percent of the patients underwent an echocardiogram. None of the patients had symptoms suggestive of chronic infection or progressed to endocarditis after a median follow-up of 100 months, regardless of the early increase in phase i IgG antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
The early increase in phase i IgG antibodies in asymptomatic patients is not associated with progression to endocarditis despite not undergoing prolonged antibiotic treatment.
Servicio de Medicina Interna, H.U. Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España. Electronic address: andres.martin.sspa@juntadeandalucia.es.
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A
Martín-Aspas
Servicio de Medicina Interna, H.U. Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España.
C
C
Collado-Pérez
Servicio de Medicina Interna, H.U. Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España.
L
L
Vela-Manzano
Servicio de Microbiología, H.U. Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España.
C
C
Fernández-Gutiérrez Del Álamo
Servicio de Medicina Interna, H.U. Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España.
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I
Tinoco-Racero
Servicio de Medicina Interna, H.U. Puerta del Mar, Cádiz, España.
J A
JA
Girón-González
Coxiella burnetii; Echocardiogram; Ecocardiograma; Endocarditis; Fiebre Q; Prevención; Prevention; Q fever; Serology; Serología