The Changing Epidemiology of Pediatric Endocarditis

Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015 Sep;29(3):513-24. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2015.05.004.

Abstract

The epidemiology of infective endocarditis (IE) appears to be related to changes in the management of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and the virtual disappearance of rheumatic heart disease. To better understand these changes, we divide the history into: I. The pre-surgical era, II. The early years of CHD surgical intervention, correlated with introduction of antibiotics, III. The modern era of cardiac interventions. Microbiologic changes include an early predominance of viridans streptococci and an overtaking by staphylococci. Additionally, there have been advances in imaging that allow earlier detection of IE and a reduction in IE-related mortality.

Keywords: Acyanotic; Congenital heart disease; Cyanotic; Endocarditis; Incidence; Mortality; Staphylococci; Streptococci.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Endocarditis / diagnostic imaging
  • Endocarditis / epidemiology*
  • Endocarditis / etiology
  • Endocarditis / mortality
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / surgery
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
  • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / complications*
  • Heart Diseases / congenital*
  • Heart Diseases / microbiology
  • Heart Diseases / surgery
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Radiography
  • Staphylococcaceae
  • Viridans Streptococci

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents