title: HACEK endocarditis: state-of-the-art.
abstract: The HACEK group of bacteria - Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Aggregatibacter spp. (A. actinomycetemcomitans, A. aphrophilus, A. paraphrophilus, and A. segnis), Cardiobacterium spp. (C. hominis, C. valvarum), Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella spp. (K. kingae, K. denitrificans) - are fastidious gram-negative bacteria, part of the normal microbiota of oral and upper respiratory tract in humans. Although their pathogenicity is limited, they are responsible for 1-3% of all infective endocarditis. HACEK endocarditis mostly affect patients with underlying heart disease or prosthetic valves, and are characterized by an insidious course, with a mean diagnosis delay of 1 month (Haemophilus spp.) to 3 months (Aggregatibacter and Cardiobacterium spp.). The advent of continuously monitored blood culture systems with enriched media has erased the need for extended incubation for the diagnosis of HACEK endocarditis. Medical treatment relies on third-generation cephalosporin, with a favorable outcome in 80-90% of cases, with or without cardiac surgery.
authors.affiliation: a Infectious Diseases and Intensive Care Unit , Pontchaillou University Hospital , Rennes , France.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Revest
authors.affiliation: b Department of Emergency Medicine, SAMU 97.3 , Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon , Cayenne , French Guiana.
authors.forename: Gérald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egmann
authors.affiliation: c Bacteriology, Pontchaillou University Hospital , Rennes , France.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cattoir
authors.affiliation: a Infectious Diseases and Intensive Care Unit , Pontchaillou University Hospital , Rennes , France.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tattevin
mesh_terms: D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins
keywords: Aggregatibacter spp.; Cardiobacterium spp.; Eikenella corrodens; HACEK group; Haemophilus parainfluenzae; Infective endocarditis; Kingella spp.