CHARACTERISTICS OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS IN FRANCE IN 1991 - A 1-YEAR SURVEY

Objective: To update data on incidence and characteristics of infectiv e endocarditis in France. Background: Numerous studies have shown that the incidence and course of infective endocarditis remain stable in s pite of advances in treatment and of prophylactic recommendations Meth ods: A survey of all consecutive cases of infective endocarditis was c onducted over 12 months in all the institutions of three French region s. Results: Data were collected from 415 cases of definite (32%), prob able (53%), and possible (15%) infective endocarditis. Tire adjusted a nnual incidence was 24.3 cases per million inhabitants. Thirty-four pe rcent of the patients had no previously known heart disease, 33% had n ative valve disease, 22% had a prosthetic valve, and 11% had miscellan eous underlying conditions. Infective endocarditis was located solely on the mitral valve in 39%, solely on the aortic valve in 36%, and on the tricuspid valve in 6%. Echocardiogmphy showed a vegetation on the mitral valve in 39%, on the aortic valve in 29%, and on the tricuspid valve in 8%. The causal microorganism was identified in 92%; it was a Streptococcus in 58%, and a Staphylococcus in 23%. Twenty patients wer e intravenous drug users, and 45 had had a medical or a surgical proce dure, which might be associated with the occurrence of infective endoc arditis. During the first 2 months after admission, 24% of the patient s underwent surgery, and 17% of all patients died. Conclusions: Despit e medical and surgical advances, infective endocarditis remains freque nt and severe in France.