BACTERIAL-ENDOCARDITIS IN ENGLAND IN 1970S - REVIEW OF 70 PATIENTS

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (184) , 499-512
Abstract
The features of 70 cases of bacterial endocarditis are reported. Viridans group Streptococcus was the cause in 45%, staphylococci in 27% and enterococci in 7%. Rheumatic heart disease was the predisposing factor in less than 1/4 of patients and in almost half there was no obvious pre-existing cardiac disease. Apart from cardiac murmurs and pyrexia, the classical features of infective endocarditis were uncommon, hematuria being observed in less than 1/3. Most patients were over the age of 30, 1/3 more than 60 yr of age and the peak incidence occurred in the 7th decade. The mortality was 34%, being highest in infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Adverse prognostic features included cardiac failure, advanced age and peripheral embolization. One-third of infections were caused by bacteria resistant to penicillin.

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