CLINICAL SPECTRUM OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS INCLUDING PROSTHETIC VALVE ENDOCARDITIS

The clinical picture of infective endocarditis (i.E.) depends on several factors, e.g. etiology, precipitating and predisposing factors, and in the last few years the clinical spectrum and course have changed. Main symptoms are recurrent fever, cardiac murmurs, anemia, and bacteremia. Complications may be the first symptom of the disease. We observed an increase of right-sided endocarditis especially in drug abusers and of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Knowledge of all circumstances and the changing pattern of the clinical picture is the only way to reduce the mortality of this disease.