LISTERIA ENDOCARDITIS - CURRENT MANAGEMENT AND PATIENT OUTCOME - WORLD LITERATURE-REVIEW

This is believed to be the 58th reported case of Listeria monocytogene s infective endocarditis. Published reports worldwide were reviewed as to treatment, outcome, and prognostic features. There is controversy over whether all patients with this condition should have surgery. Mor eover the best antibiotic treatment is not known, which accounts for t he heterogeneity of regimens used. Listeria endocarditis has a high mo rtality rate (37%). This was higher in men (41% v 32%) and in patients with valve prostheses (41% v 31%), though neither observation reached statistical significance. There was no significant difference in mort ality between surgical and non-surgical treatment, but untreated liste ria endocarditis proved universally fatal. From the data, treatment wi th ampicillin is recommended, with resort to surgery in cases where th e infection cannot be eradicated or where haemodynamic compromise has occurred.