The Study

We evaluated culture-negative, community-acquired en-docarditis by using indirect immunofluorescent assays and molecular analyses for Bartonella spp. and Coxiella burnetii and found a prevalence of 19.6 % and 7.8%, respectively. Our findings reinforce the need to study these organisms in patients with culture-negative, community-acquired endo-carditis, especially B. henselae in cat owners. Worldwide, Bartonella spp. and Coxiella burnetii en-docarditis have varied prevalences and clinical ef-fects (1,2). Detection is difficult in routine blood cultures, so different diagnosis methods are needed. Our study inves-tigated the frequency of and the risk factors for Bartonella spp. and C. burnetii infection in cases of culture-negative, community-acquired endocarditis