Infective endocarditis in intravenous drug users

This work is the retrospective study of cases of IE in intravenous drug abusers hospitalized at Clinic of infection deseases FN Na Bulovce in years 2000 - 2009. By surviving pacients their consecutive health evolution has been checked. The file includes 45 cases of IE in 40 intravenous drug abusers¨(5 recurrences at 3 pacients). The tricuspidal valve alone or together with the pulmonary valve have been affected in 29 cases (64 %), the valves of the left hearth in 9 cases (20 %), the duplex disability occured 5 times (11 %). Except i.v. narcomania we have found bicuspidal aortal valve (twice), artificial aortal valve (once), and postrevmatical changes in mitral valve (once) as IE predispositions. Etiologicaly predominates Staphylococcus aureus, whereas there was a dual infection in one case. Only at 3 patients (7 %) an other causer has been found. In 11 cases the etiology is not clear. Part of 26 of 29 cases (90 %) at isolated right hearth affects was a pulmoary embolisation. Serious complication was the acute respiratory distress syndrome - ARDS (8 times), multiorgan dysfunction syndrome - MODS (8 times, lethality 12 %) and brain edema (5 times, lethality 40 %). From 57 hospitalizations (some patients were hospitalized twice with the same attack) were 29 patients cured, 17 sent to cardiocenter and 7 went..