Increasing incidence of IV-drug use associated endocarditis in southern West Virginia and potential economic impact.

Background: The opioid crisis has disproportionally affected Appalachia. One of the potentially lethal and costly complications associated with IV drug use is infective endocarditis (IE). The goal of this study was to assess the trend and costs of substance abuse associated IE admissions in Southern West Virginia.

Steptococcus bovis meningitis and sepsis associated with Strongyloidiasis in an immunocompetent patient.

We report the case of a 69-year-old female who presented with headache, stiff neck, and decreased level of consciousness. Lumbar puncture results were typical of bacterial meningitis. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures showed Streptococcus bovis.

Strongyloides-infected patients at Charleston area medical center, West Virginia, 1997-1998.

Twenty Strongyloides-infected patients were diagnosed at West Virginia's Charleston Area Medical Center in 1997 and 1998. We recommend that strongyloidiasis, which can be fatal, be a reportable disease in West Virginia.