147: Infective endocarditis in Tunisia: A changing profile?

Abstract

Since the first description of infective endocarditis (IE), the profile of the disease has evolved continuously with stable incidence. To update information gained on the epidemiology profile of IE in a Tunisian high-volume tertiary care center This was a descriptive retrospective study of patients treated for IE from January 2001 to December 2010. The patients were divided in two groups according to the date of diagnosis of IE: group 1 (from January 2001 to June 2006) and group 2 (from June 2006 to December 2011). These groups were compared for epidemiologic factors and microbiological differences. A total of 297 patients admitted during the study period met the modified Duke criteria for IE. The comparison of demographic and microbiological characteristics of IE cases over time between the results of the two groups showed that the annual incidence of IE was stable. The sex incidence rates of IE, in particular, incidence among men was relatively stable across the study period and ranged from 60% in 2001-2006 to 58% in 2006-2010, also there was no significant increase in incidence among women (P=ns). Among incident cases, there was a significant increasing age on presentation, with median age increasing from 39.5 years in 2001-2006 to 51.5 years in 2006-2010 (P=0.05). There were no statistically significant decreases in the proportions of cases affecting the aortic valve (P=0.4) and in IE due to oral streptococci (P= ns) over time. Also there was no significant increase in the incidence of Staphylococcus IE. However, the incidence of IE with negative blood culture has remained stable and continues to be high, nearing 50%. The rate of rheumatic heart disease as an underlying heart disease was stable over time. However, the standardized incidence of IE has increased in patients with prosthetic valves (P= ns). Overall in-hospital mortality rate decreased from ((18.6% in 2001-2006 vs 14.6% in 2006-2010. This study has shown that the annual incidence of IE is stable in Tunisia. However, profound changes in the epidemiological profile of this disease have not been noted in our population.