NATIVE VALVE STAPHYLOCOCCAL ENDOCARDITIS - ETIOLOGY, RISK-FACTORS ANDOUTCOME IN 53 CASES

Fifty-three cases of staphylococcal endocarditis from a national endoc arditis survey were analyzed for risk factors and outcome. Thirty of 5 3 patients had predisposing heart disease (39.6% rheumatic fever) but only 3 were on dialysis, only 2 had central venous catheter, only 2 in travenous drug abuse but 7 had prior cardiosurgery, Mortality was 39.6 %. In analyzing risk factors for death, attributable mortality was sig nificantly associated with skin infections (P < 0.05), embolization (P < 0.02), inappropriate therapy (P < 0.005) either because of too shor t therapy (P < 0.003) or wrong antibiotic combination (P < 0.01), Surg ical therapy was associated with better outcome (4.8% deaths vs. 31.2% survivors, P < 0.04).