Definite Streptococcus bovis endocarditis: characteristics in 20 patients

Objective To determine the specific characteristics of Streptococcus bovis infective endocarditis (IE) by reviewing our own experience of S, bovis IE. Methods Twenty episodes of definite S, bovis IE were reviewed in 20 patient s hospitalized from 1980 to 1996. Results The mean age was 62 +/- 14 years, and 14 (70%) patients had no know n predisposing cardiac condition. The principal antimicrobials used were pe nicillin G (N = 10) and amoxycillin (N = 8). Surgery was required in Four ( 20%) patients. Neurologic complications occurred in eight (40%) patients, a fter initiation of therapy in six (75%) (mean time: 14 days). An unfavorabl e outcome was observed in four of 20 patients and tended to be more frequen t in patients who had had neurologic complications (P = 0.10). Colonic tumo rs were present in 11 of 16 (69%) patients. Conclusions Advanced age, occurrence of IE on presumably normal valves, hig h rate of neurologic complications, associated gastrointestinal diseases an d low mortality rate during initial follow-up are characteristic features o f S. bovis IE observed in this study.