THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS

The incidence of infective endocarditis seems stable. There has been a significant trend toward an increase in the age of the patients. The proportion of patients with endocarditis and rheumatic heart disease has decreased to about 25% Prosthetic valves and degenerative heart disease are becoming increasingly important underlying heart lesions. One third of patients have no diagnosable underlying heart disease. More Streptococcus bovis and enterococcal endocarditis are observed probably related to the increase in the age of the patients. With more prosthetic valves, more staphylococcal endocarditis are also observed. Despite the therapeutic advances, the mortality of endocarditis remains from 15 to 45%. An improved prognosis can be expected by an earlier diagnosis.