A Retrospective Review: Significance of Vegetation Size in Injection Drug Users with Right-Sided Infective Endocarditis

Abstract

Background: Previously described prognostic markers in right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) include vegetation size ≥1cm, fever for more than three weeks, cardiac failure and severe sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of medical therapy for vegetations ≥1cm and explore determinants of outcome in a representative population of intravenous drug users (IDUs) at a metropolitan Australian health service. Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive IDUs presenting to our institution with native-valve RSIE (by modified Duke criteria) over seven years (2005-2011). Data recorded included echocardiographic estimation of maximal vegetation diameter (classified as < or ≥1cm). Relati..