Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a potentially lethal disease for adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is one of the commonest pathogens, identified in patients with ACHD and IE. This study aims to analyse the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and in-hospital management of IE due to SA (SAIE) in ACHD.
Methods: This is a single center retrospective study on documented episodes of SAIE in ACHD patients, treated at the Royal Brompton Hospital between 1999 and February 2020.
Results: Thirty-seven ACHD patients had an episode of SAIE (mean age 35.5 ± 14.9 years). More than half (51.3%), had a cardiac lesion of at least moderate complexity, with left ventricular outflow tract lesions being the most frequent. Twenty-four (64.9%) patients had a history of at least one previous open-heart surgery, and prosthetic material was used in 20 patients. A predisposing event was identified in 11 episodes (29.7%). Surgery was performed during the same admission in 24 (64.9%) patients, with early surgery (≤ 7 days from admission) performed in 12 patients. Early operation was associated with a shorter in-hospital stay compared to a later operation during the same admission or medical management [28.5 (IQR 23) vs. 43.5 (IQR 30) days, P = 0.028]. In-hospital mortality was 8.1%. Renal dysfunction at admission was associated with in-hospital multiorgan complications and/or death (OR 7.50, 95% CI, 1.18-47.67, P = 0.03).
Conclusion: SAIE remains a life-threatening complication, necessitating cardiac surgery in the majority of ACHD patients. Ongoing educational investment on prevention and timely SAIE detection is warranted.
Keywords: Adult congenital heart disease; Epidemiology; Infective endocarditis; Management; Mortality; Staphylococcus Aureus.
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