Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Biography

Biography: Santiago Herrero

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infectious microbial disease of cardiac valvular endothelium. The characteristic lesion consists of the presence of vegetations that can settle in the valvular veils, tendon cords or mural endocardium. Hospital mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock has been between 20 and 50%, a fact probably underestimated and overshadowed by a late referral to the intensive care unit, although clear criteria of admission to the unit for patients have been established with this disorder. The objective of this presentation was to analyze the differential characteristics of patients with IE who required admission to intensive care, as well as the evolution and prognosis of patients admitted according to objective criteria and severity scores, identifying the variables that were associated with the admission into the unit and the death of the patients. A high proportion of patients with endocarditis require admission to the Intensive Care Unit, presenting a more unfavorable prognosis. Infection with bacteria or fungi, heart failure, and stroke are predictors of in-hospital mortality. The knowledge of epidemiology, diagnosis, and microbiology, as well as microbial diagnosis, is fundamental for an adequate treatment in its different stages of the disease. The union of different disciplines, such as intensive medicine, microbiology or cardiology, can be fundamental for early diagnosis and treatment. The use of timelines during the hospital stay of patients in the ICU can help manage this infectious disease and avoid typing errors.