Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a rare disease characterized by a bacterial or fungal infection of the endocardium. It is marked by valve destruction and the formation of vegetation, corresponding to a bacterial-infested clot of fibrin and platelets [1]. IE is a deadly disease, associated with difficult diagnosis, high morbidity, and both in-hospital and long-term mortality, which more frequently affects males than females. IE may occur both in patients with previous valve disease and on apparently normal valves and is particularly frequent in intravenous drug abusers [2]. The epidemiology of IE has progressively evolved over the past two decades. Healthcare-associated IE accounts for approximately 25% to 30% of contemporary cohorts, driven by an increase in the use of intravenous lines and intracardiac devices. Paradoxically, among the many species of pathogens identified in bacteremia, only a limited number of Gram-positive bacteria are responsible for IE.
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22/04/2025 12:33 pm