Active infective endocarditis observed in an Indian hospital 1981–1991

https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9149(92)90299-EGet rights and content

Abstract

Clinical data from 186 patients (133 males and 53 females) with 190 episodes of infective endocarditis (IE) occurring between January 1981 and July 1991 were studied retrospectively at a large referral hospital in Northern India with the intention of highlighting certain essential differences from those reported in the West. The mean age was much lower (25 ± SD 12 years, range 2 to 75 years). Rheumatic heart disease was the most frequent underlying heart lesion accounting for 79 patients (42%). This was followed by congenital heart disease in 62 (33%) and normal valve endocarditis in 17 (9%). Twenty-four patients had either aortic regurgitation (n = 15) or mitral regurgitation (n = 9) of uncertain etiology. Prosthetic valve infection and mitral valve prolapse were present in only 2 patients each. A definite predisposing factor could be identified in only 28 patients (15%). Postabortal sepsis and sepsis related to childbirth accounted for 6 and 5 cases, respectively. Only 1 patient had history of intravenous drug abuse. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed vegetations in 121 patients (64%). Blood cultures were positive in only 87 (47%), with a total of 90 microbial isolates. Commonest infecting organisms were staphylococci (37 cases) and streptococci (34 cases). Except for a significantly higher number of patients with neurologic complications in the culture-negative group, there were no differences between patients with culture-positive and culture-negative IE. Of the 190 episodes of IE, the patients had received antibiotics before admission in 110 (58%) instances. A significantly greater number of culture-negative patients had received antibiotics than did culture-positive patients (87 vs 23, p < 0.001). Overall in-hospital mortality was 25%. There was a significantly higher number of neurologic complications in patients who died than in those who recovered (38 vs 14%, p < 0.01). It is concluded that the spectrum of patients with IE that is seen is quite different from that seen in the West. Control of rheumatic fever on a national level, maintaining aseptic techniques during procedures related to childbirth including prophylactic antibiotics, and wider availability of sophisticated surgical techniques would go a long way in improving the outlook in these patients.

References (34)

  • JD Skehan et al.

    Infective endocarditis — incidence and mortality in the North East Thames region

    Br Heart J

    (1988)
  • L Gordis

    The virtual disappearance of rheumatic fever in the United States: lessons in the rise and fall of disease

    Circulation

    (1985)
  • RH Schwartz et al.

    Incidence of acute rheumatic fever — a suburban community hospital experience during the 1970's

    Clin Pediatr (Phila)

    (1983)
  • MA Land et al.

    Acute rheumatic fever — a vanishing disease in suburbia

    JAMA

    (1983)
  • Community prevention and control of cardiovascular disease: report of a WHO expert committee

    WHO Tech Rep Series no. 732

    (1986)
  • Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: report of a WHO study group

    WHO Tech Rep Series no. 764

    (1988)
  • JA Stewart et al.

    Echocardiographic documentation of vegetative lesions in infective endocarditis: clinical implications

    Circulation

    (1980)
  • Cited by (66)

    • Changing spectrum of infective endocarditis in India: An 11-year experience from an academic hospital in North India

      2021, Indian Heart Journal
      Citation Excerpt :

      The polymicrobial group was more likely to have infections from S. aureus, CoNS, Candida, GNB, and enterococci. The relative contributions of GNB and fungi showed no significant variation over time.15–22 P. aeruginosa remained next common to S. aureus in IUD-IE.

    • Clinical characteristics and outcome of infective endocarditis among intravenous drug abusers in India

      2020, Indian Heart Journal
      Citation Excerpt :

      RHD accounted for only 9.0% of cases in total population and 13.9% among non IVDA group. This is in contrast to Indian studies which attribute majority of cases (40–70%) to RHD.12–14 This is likely because of declining incidence of RHD in our country.16–18

    • Infective Endocarditis and Rheumatic Heart Disease in the North of Australia

      2012, Heart Lung and Circulation
      Citation Excerpt :

      RHD was associated with a far greater risk of IE. This association between RHD and increased risk of IE is well documented in the developing world [10,19,20] but is no longer seen in many higher income countries [9]. In the latter context, RHD-associated IE has become less important as the prevalence of RHD has reduced [21] and rates of IDU have risen [22].

    • Prospective study of infective endocarditis from a developing country

      2011, American Heart Journal
      Citation Excerpt :

      In our study, RHD accounted for 29.8% of the cases. Previous studies have quoted figures between 42% and 76%.4,5,8,10,11 Mitral valve prolapse accounted for a minority of cases.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text