Bacterial endocarditis in children: trends in its diagnosis, course, and prognosis

Mahaim fibers coexisting with coarctation of aorta and bicuspid aortic valve

We found a coexistence of Mahaim fibers, coarctation of aorta and bicuspid valve in a young patient presenting with palpitations and subraventricular tachycardia. This rare combination of these three congenital cardiac abnormalities occurring in the same patient has not been reported previously. Detailed cardiac studies unmasked the patient's cardiac abnormalities. Furthermore, successful percutaneous intervention in treating coarctation and catheter-based ablation of Mahaim fibers were performed with resolution of symptoms. This case is discussed here in detail, alongside a review of the literature.

Neisseria sicca endocarditis requiring mitral valve replacement in a previously healthy adolescent

Infective endocarditis due to Neisseria sicca, a normal inhabitant of the upper respiratory tract, is rarely reported but associated with embolic phenomena and large vegetations often requiring surgical intervention. We report a previously healthy 12-year-old girl who presented with prolonged fever and altered mental status. The patient developed rapidly progressive respiratory insufficiency and cardiovascular instability, and echocardiography demonstrated a large vegetation on the mitral valve. She developed worsening mitral regurgitation with resultant pulmonary hemorrhage and underwent mitral valve replacement. Her blood culture was positive for N. sicca. This infection should be considered in patients with prolonged high fever and multiorgan dysfunction. Despite a typically severe course, reported mortality is low.

Infective endocarditis in congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) has become the leading risk factor for pediatric infective endocarditis (IE) in developed countries after the decline of rheumatic heart disease. Advances in catheter- and surgery-based cardiac interventions have rendered almost all types of CHD amenable to complete correction or at least palliation. Patient survival has increased, and a new patient population, referred to as adult CHD (ACHD) patients, has emerged. Implanted prosthetic material paves the way for cardiovascular device-related infections, but studies on the management of CHD-associated IE in the era of cardiovascular devices are scarce. The types of heart malformation (unrepaired, repaired, palliated) substantially differ in their lifetime risks for IE. Streptococci and staphylococci are the predominant pathogens. Right-sided IE is more frequently seen in patients with CHD. Relevant comorbidity caused by cardiac and extracardiac episode-related complications is high. Transesophageal echocardiography is recommended for more precise visualization of vegetations, especially in complex type of CHD in ACHD patients. Antimicrobial therapy and surgical management of IE remain challenging, but outcome of CHD-associated IE from the neonate to the adult is better than in other forms of IE.

CONCLUSION

Primary prevention of IE is vital and includes good dental health and skin hygiene; antibiotic prophylaxis is indicated only in high-risk patients undergoing oral mucosal procedures.

The changing epidemiology of pediatric endocarditis at a children's hospital over seven decades

This study sought to determine whether improvements in the care of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have changed the epidemiology of infective endocarditis (IE). A retrospective study of patients 18 years of age and younger treated for IE from 1992 to 2004 (era 3) was conducted at the authors' children's hospital in New York City. This study was compared with two previous studies conducted at the same hospital from 1930 to 1959 (era 1) and from 1977 to 1992 (era 2). During the three eras, IE was diagnosed for 205 children with a median age of 8 years during eras 1 and 2, which decreased to 1.5 years during era 3, partly because of IE after cardiac surgery for young infants. In era 3, nonstreptococcal and nonstaphylococcal pathogens associated with hospital-acquired IE increased. Complications from IE declined during era 3, but after the widespread availability of antibiotics in 1944, crude mortality rates were similar in eras 1 (32%), 2 (21%), and 3 (24%). However, in era 3, mortality occurred only among subjects with hospital-acquired IE. The epidemiology of pediatric IE has changed in the modern era. Currently, IE is most likely to occur among young children with complex congenital heart disease. Pediatric IE remains associated with high crude mortality rates when it is acquired in the hospital.

Infective endocarditis in Arkansan children from 1990 through 2002

BACKGROUND

Recent medical and surgical advances have increased the potential risk of endocarditis. Epidemiology, pathogens, morbidity and/or mortality may have evolved in the past decade in pediatric patients diagnosed with endocarditis.

METHODS

Retrospective reviews of medical records from Arkansas Children's Hospital were done to identify patients with infective endocarditis from January 1990 through December 2002. Basic demographic and clinical data were gathered and reviewed.

RESULTS

Of 76 patients identified, 57 were included based on diagnostic criteria. Congenital heart disease with (56%) and without (25%) correction were the most common risk factors. Echocardiograms revealed vegetations in 67%. Echocardiograms remain relatively deficient in patients with complex cyanotic heart disease (50% positive) vs. those with normal anatomy (83% positive). Streptococci (30%) and Staphylococcus aureus (21%) were the most common organisms identified overall; however, we observed a predominance of enterococci in infants <2 years of age (41%). Our study revealed a reduced rate of complications, especially of the central nervous system (7% vs. 25 and 33% in prior studies); however, our rate of S. aureus was lower (21% vs. 32 and 39%), and this pathogen continues to be associated with a higher incidence of complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Infective endocarditis continues to present a difficult challenge in pediatrics; its associated pathogens and outcomes have changed little in the past decade.

Ultrasound evaluation of aortic valve anatomy in the fetus

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility of ultrasound identification of aortic valve anatomy in the fetus, with particular emphasis on the detection of bicuspid aortic valve.

METHODS

This study was a prospective analysis of 21 fetuses with prenatally diagnosed congenital left heart obstructive lesions and 45 normal fetuses undergoing routine ultrasound evaluated at a tertiary referral center. These fetuses underwent detailed echocardiography, including the study of the aortic valve on a targeted short-axis view of the right ventricle. Necropsies or postnatal echocardiograms were available for confirmation of the diagnosis in all cases.

RESULTS

Aortic cusps and commissures were satisfactorily visualized in 38/45 (84%) normal fetuses and in 18/21 (86%) fetuses with congenital heart disease. The aortic valve was correctly defined as bicuspid in one normal fetus and in six fetuses with congenital heart disease. In two fetuses with a positive family history, the bicuspid aortic valve was isolated. There was one incorrect diagnosis (a unicuspid unicommissural valve diagnosed prenatally as a bicuspid aortic valve in a fetus with severe aortic stenosis) and one false-positive diagnosis in a fetus diagnosed with a coarctation and a bicuspid aortic valve late in the third trimester of pregnancy and in which both anomalies were not confirmed at neonatal echocardiography.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that aortic valve anatomy can be satisfactorily assessed in fetuses with and without left heart obstructive lesions. We believe that a detailed search for a bicuspid aortic valve should be attempted in all patients referred for a positive family history of congenital heart disease, in general, and of left ventricle outflow tract obstruction or bicuspid aortic valve, in particular. In fact, the presence of an asymptomatic bicuspid aortic valve has been demonstrated to represent an important factor predisposing to the development of bacterial endocarditis and dissecting aortic aneurysm late in adult life. Therefore, an early detection of such an anomaly may contribute to ensure a longer symptom-free lifespan of individuals with the most common cardiac anomaly at birth.

Infective endocarditis in children--incidence, pattern, diagnosis and management in a developing country

BACKGROUND

In developing countries, patients with infective endocarditis are referred late, there is low yield of blood cultures and incidence of rheumatic heart disease is still high.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate clinical pattern, assess diagnostic criteria in our settings and determine outcome.

SETTING

A tertiary referral center for paediatric and adult cardiology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All children with infective endocarditis admitted to a single center from April 1997 to March 2000 were analysed. The diagnosis was based on Duke's criteria, which proposed two major and six minor criteria. Minor criteria were expanded to include raised acute phase reactants and presence of newly diagnosed or increasing splenomegally. The patients were stratified as definite, possible and rejected cases.

RESULTS

Of 1402 hospital admissions, 45 patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for infective endocarditis giving an incidence of 32 per 1000 hospital admissions. The mean age was 7.9 +/- 4 years (4 months to 16 years) with only two patients under 1 year of age. Rheumatic heart disease was the underlying lesion in 24 patients (53%) while congenital heart lesions occurred in 20 patients (45%). Previous antibiotic treatment was given in 26 patients (58%) definitely. Blood cultures were positive in 21 patients (47%); Streptococcus Viridans being the most common organism, while vegetations on echocardiography were present in 32 patients (71%). Surgery was undertaken in four patients and five patients left against medical advise. Of 10 patients with aortic valve involvement, there were three deaths (30%) and overall mortality was 13% (six patients).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of infective endocarditis is 32 per 1000 (3.2%) hospital admissions in a tertiary paediatric cardiology referral center. Rheumatic heart disease is still the most common underlying heart lesion. Blood cultures are positive in less than 50% of cases and echocardiography in expert hands is a more sensitive tool in our set up. Mortality is still high and aortic valve involvement in particular, carried poor prognosis.

Lacrimal-duct-probing-induced bacteremia: should children with congenital heart defects receive antibiotic prophylaxis?

PURPOSE

To determine the incidence of bacteremia following lacrimal-duct probing in children, and to evaluate the potential need for antibiotic prophylaxis in children who are at an increased risk of infectious endocarditis (IE).

METHODS

In a prospective study beginning in October 1994, 40 consecutive children requiring lacrimal-duct probing performed by a single pediatric ophthalmologist received preoperative lacrimal and blood cultures followed by postoperative probe-induced transient bacteremia that was defined as a negative preoperative blood culture, followed by a positive postoperative blood culture of the same bacteria identified in the positive lacrimal culture.

RESULTS

The overall infection rate as described above was 7 of 40 children (17.5%) with a 95% confidence interval of 7.3% to 32.8%. Of these, four children had positive postoperative cultures for Haemophilus influenzae (10.0%) and 3 were positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae (7.5%) One child had a negative preoperative blood and lacrimal culture with a postoperative blood culture positive for Streptococcus viridans.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a significant incidence of lacrimal-probe-induced bacteremia with organisms that have been documented as etiological agents for IE in children. IE, although less common in children, remains a serious, potentially life threatening infection with high mortality. Although lacrimal-duct probing has never been clearly associated with documented endocarditis, it is the authors' recommendation that it be prudent for patients who are at known high risk for endocarditis to receive SBE prophylaxis considering the low cost/benefit ratio.

Aortic aneurysm complicating bacterial endocarditis in childhood

Bacterial endocarditis is an uncommon diagnosis in childhood with significant morbidity and mortality. Aortic aneurysm as a complication is well described in adults but there are few reports in the paediatric literature. Two children with bacterial endocarditis are described, whose illnesses were complicated by aortic aneurysm formation requiring surgical intervention.