Hemophilus endocarditis. Two patients with complications

Abstract

Two cases of Hemophilus endocarditis were diagnosed in our hospital during a six-month period. Although both patients were in good health until the onset of their endocarditis, both had brain emboli and required emergency heart-valve surgery. Falsely low incidences of this disease have been reported, since Hemophilus sp are difficult to isolate. Additionally, these organisms are consistently associated with large vegetations and have a greater than 50% incidence of embolization. It is this higher incidence of embolization that leads us to conclude that prophylactic surgery should be considered in selected patients.

Prospective epidemiological study of invasiveHaemophilus influenzae disease in adults

“…The focus of infection and the clinical symptoms were similar to those described in the literature (15,16,23,(27)(28)(29)(30)(31), with pneumonia being most frequent. Haemophilus influenzae causes between 1 and 4 % of all cases of meningitis in adults (32,33).…”

Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Disease in Adults

“…These cases typically have large vegetations with embolie complications and require surgery for cure. 16 Three patients, two with pneumonia and one with epi¬ glottitis, experienced symptomatic H influenzae conjuncti¬ vitis accompanying their primary disease. In all cases conjunctivitis was cured with systemic antibiotic and top¬ ical sulfacetamide sodium therapy.…”

<i>Haemophilus parainfluenzae</i>Endocarditis on Tricuspid Valve

“…Early diagnosis of //. parainfluenzae endocarditis is best es tablished by echocardiography, as large vege tations are typical for Haemophilus species [2,5], We propose that echocardiography should be performed in patients with fever of unknown origin whose blood cultures are negative. Valve resection was done in pa tients with persistent infection although se vere heart failure is uncommon in Haemo philus endocarditis involving the tricuspid or pulmonary valve.…”

“…Endocarditis caused by the Haemophilus species is considered to be very uncommon [1], Appropriate antibacterial therapy using in vitro tests is sometimes inadequate, and valve resection has had to be performed in some cases because of persisting infection [2,5]. A review of Haemophilus endocarditis covering a period of 50 years revealed 68 documented cases [2], In 42 cases Haemophi lus parainfluenzae was found to be the causa tive pathogen of endocarditis.…”

“…A review of Haemophilus endocarditis covering a period of 50 years revealed 68 documented cases [2], In 42 cases Haemophi lus parainfluenzae was found to be the causa tive pathogen of endocarditis. Involvement of the tricuspid valve was seen in only 3 cases.…”