Multiple-valve infective endocarditis: clinical, microbiologic, echocardiographic, and prognostic profile

Medicine (Baltimore). 2011 Jul;90(4):231-236. doi: 10.1097/MD.0b013e318225dcb0.

Abstract

Whether infection in more than 1 valve worsens the prognosis for endocarditis remains untested. We conducted the current study to determine the profile of multiple-valve endocarditis, compare multiple-valve endocarditis with single-valve endocarditis, and determine predictors of outcome. We conducted a prospective and observational study including 680 episodes of infective endocarditis consecutively diagnosed at 3 tertiary centers. Multiple valve involvement was present in 115 episodes (17%), and single valve involvement in 530 (78%). In the remaining 35 cases, valvular involvement could not be documented. Mean age of patients with multiple valve endocarditis was 58 years. Clinical complications were frequent (heart failure 65%, renal failure 44%, systemic embolisms 24%). The microorganism most frequently isolated was Staphylococcus aureus (22%).Factors predictive of in-hospital mortality in the univariate analysis were septic shock, prosthetic endocarditis, heart failure, and persistent infection. In the multivariate analysis, we detected heart failure (odds ratios [OR], 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-13.8) and persistent infection (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.7-10.8) as predictors of in-hospital mortality. Compared to single-valve endocarditis, multiple-valve disease was associated more frequently with heart failure (65% vs. 50%, p = 0.03), perivalvular complications (41% vs. 21%, p < 0.001), and heart surgery (70% vs. 54%, p = 0.002). Despite these differences, in-hospital mortality was similar (28% vs. 30%, p = 0.647). In conclusion, multiple-valve endocarditis has a poor clinical course. Mortality is similar to that of single-valve endocarditis, probably in relation with aggressive therapy including surgery in many patients. Heart failure and persistent infection are independent predictors of death.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Cohort Studies
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Confidence Intervals
  • Echocardiography, Doppler / methods*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnostic imaging*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / epidemiology*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / therapy
  • Female
  • Heart Valve Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart Valve Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Heart Valve Diseases / microbiology
  • Heart Valve Diseases / therapy
  • Hospital Mortality / trends*
  • Hospitals, University
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Prevalence
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents