Aim: To recognize incidence and epidemiological characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) in the Czech Republic.
Methods: A prospective multicentre observational study on occurrence and characteristics of IE in 29 hospitals within one year. A cooperative physician in every hospital reported all cases of IE that occurred in pre-defined hospital attraction area in 12 consecutive months. A unified anonymous form was used for reporting. Only patients fulfilling the modified Duke criteria were enrolled.
Results: One hundred and thirty-four cases of IE were reported. Thus, crude incidence of IE appeared 3.4 cases/100,000/year. Vegetations were found on aortic valves in 45.5% and on mitral valves in 40.3%. The most common etiological agent was Staphylococcus aureus (29.9%). Etiology was not established in 45 cases (33.6%), mostly due to previous antibiotic treatment. The most frequent predisposing conditions were purulent infections, namely in lower extremities, and previous invasive cardiac procedures (cardiac surgery, permanent pacemaker/defibrillator etc.). Heart surgery within antibiotic treatment was performed in 36 patients (26.9%). Overall mortality was also 26.9%. Mortality was significantly higher in hospitals that did not dispose of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).
Conclusion: We assume the real incidence of IE was slightly higher than we had found. The possible causes of such discreapance are discussed.