Intravenous Drug Abuse–Associated Endocarditis: Which Patients Die?

Valve surgery and referral to addiction treatment are associated with better outcomes, whereas left-sided and bilateral infection imply a bad prognosis.

Persons who inject drugs (PWID) make up an increasing proportion of endocarditis patients. Management of such patients is challenging because of limited compliance, continued drug abuse, and uncertain strategies.

Investigators presented data on clinical course, management problems, and outcomes in PWID with a first endocarditis episode. Of 370 infective endocarditis cases diagnosed between April 2007 and March 2016 in three Canadian hospitals serving a large catchment region, 202 (55%) affected PWID. Of these, 52% were male, the median age was 34 years, 17% were homeless, and 70% were hepatitis C positive. Very few had predisposing cardiac conditions, and no case was healthcare associated. Most (61%) cases involved the right heart. The most …

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Intravenous Drug Abuse–Associated Endocarditis: Which Patients Die?

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Reviewing Author