Clinical Characteristics and Factors Associated With Mortality in First-Episode Infective Endocarditis Among Persons Who Inject Drugs.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Persons who inject drugs (PWID) represent a distinct demographic of patients with infective endocarditis. Many centers do not perform valvular surgery on these patients owing to concerns about poor outcomes. Addiction services are underused in hospitals.

Objectives

To compare clinical characteristics in first-episode infective endocarditis in PWID who are surgically vs medically managed and to identify variables associated with mortality.

Design, setting, and participants

This case series studied PWID treated for a first episode of infective endocarditis between April 1, 2007, and March 30, 2016. Participants were adult patients (aged ≥18 years) admitted to any of 3 hospitals in London, Ontario, Canada. Analysis occurred between July 2016 and November 2017.

SUBMITTER: Rodger L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6324402 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature