Clinical and microbiological characterization of patients with infectious endocarditis in a tertiary hospital: revision of cases and literature

Abstract

Introduction: The infectious endocarditis (IE) is a severe disease and a challenge for diagnosis and treatment. In spite of great developments both in diagnosis and treatment, the rates of morbidity and mortality keeps high it has been noticed a clear change in the profile of the IE cases in the last decades, showing an increase of acute forms and staphylococcal etiology. As one of the main causes of fever of undetermined origin, the recognition and characterization of these pictures can shorten the time of diagnosis and therapeutic intervention in suspect cases. Objective: The objective of this work is to revise the cases of IE that occurred in Hospital das Clínicas of School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto , University of São Paulo (HCFMRP-USP) with the aim of describing the clinics, microbiology and epidemiology of these cases in a tertiary and high complexity Hospital of national health system in Brazil. Material and Methods: retrospective study, with revision and characterization of cases with confirmed IE diagnosis. Criteria of inclusion: diagnosis of IE according to the Duke's criteria, followed at HCFMRP-USP from 2007 to 2012, with at least one positive blood culture. Criteria of exclusion: endocarditis caused by fungi and others pathogens other than bacteria. The cases will be detailed, considering clinic, echocardiographic and microbiological aspects, with characterization of isolated microorganisms in culture made through automatized method, as well as the profile of resistance to antibiotics. The project will be submitted to the IRB approval. The data collection will be made based on the revision of the patients' record.