PROSTHETIC VALVE ENDOCARDITIS

Google Scholar
  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 80  (1) , 31-37
Abstract
The diagnosis, therapy and complications of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) in 48 patients between 1962-1978 are reviewed. Staphylococcus epidermidis and diphtheroids were the most common causes of early and late PVE. These microorganisms were frequently resistant to the penicillins and cephalosporins, but were uniformly sensitive to vancomycin. The mortality rate in this series was 69%, with 20% of the deaths attributed to CNS emboli and the remainder to cardiac causes. The mortality rate exceeded 75% in patients with any of the following findings: aortic valve infection, nonstreptococcal infecting microorganism, new or increased regurgitant murmurs or significant congestive heart failure (CHF). The mortality rate was lowest in streptococcal PVE (29%) and in mitral valve PVE (47%). Early replacement of infected prostheses should be considered in all patients, except those with uncomplicated streptococcal or mitral valve PVE.