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Histopathology of valves in infective endocarditis, diagnostic criteria and treatment considerations

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Abstract

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe disease. Pathogen isolation is fundamental so as to treat effectively and reduce morbidity and mortality. Blood and valve culture and histopathology (HP) are routinely employed for this purpose. Valve HP is the gold standard for diagnosis.

Objectives

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of clinical criteria for IE (the modified Duke and the St Thomas’ minor modifications, STH) of blood and valve culture compared to valve HP, and to evaluate antibiotic treatment duration.

Methods

Prospective case series of patients, from 2006 to 2014 with surgically treated IE. Statistical analysis was done by the R software.

Results

There were 136 clinically definite episodes of IE in 133 patients. Mean age ± SD was 43 ± 15.6 years and IE was left sided in 81.6 %. HP was definite in 96 valves examined, which were used as gold standard. Sensitivity of blood culture was 61 % (CI 0.51, 0.71) and of valve culture 15 % (CI 0.07, 0.26). The modified Duke criteria were 65 % (CI 0.55, 0.75) sensitive and 33 % specific, while the STH’s sensitivity was 72 % (CI 0.61, 0.80) with similar specificity. In multivariate analysis and logistic regression, the only variable with statistical significance was duration of antibiotic therapy postoperatively.

Conclusions

Valve HP had high sensitivity and valve culture low sensitivity in the diagnosis of IE. The STH’s criteria were more sensitive than the modified Duke criteria. Valve HP should guide duration of postoperative antibiotic treatment.

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Cristiane Lamas has received a personal grant from FUNADESP/Unigranrio in support for this research, and also from FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Dr. Carolina Januário-da-Silva received a student grant from FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Heart Valve Disease Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Tatiana J. D. Brandão, Carolina A. Januario-da-Silva, Wilma Golebiovski, Clara Weksler & Cristiane C. Lamas

  2. Biostatistics Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Marcelo G. Correia

  3. Pathology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Monica Zappa

  4. Microbiology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Jaime A. Abrantes & Angela M. R. Dantas

  5. Infection Control Unit, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Giovanna Ianini F. Barbosa

  6. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro and Unigranrio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Cristiane C. Lamas

  7. Valvular Disease Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia, 8th Floor, Rua das Laranjeiras 375, Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 22240-006, Brazil

    Cristiane C. Lamas

Authors
  1. Tatiana J. D. Brandão
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  2. Carolina A. Januario-da-Silva
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  10. Cristiane C. Lamas
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Correspondence to Cristiane C. Lamas.

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Brandão, T.J.D., Januario-da-Silva, C.A., Correia, M.G. et al. Histopathology of valves in infective endocarditis, diagnostic criteria and treatment considerations. Infection 45, 199–207 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-016-0953-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-016-0953-4

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