Differences between endocarditis with true negative blood cultures and those with previous antibiotic treatment.

Background And Aim Of The Study: High morbidity and mortality are attributed to patients with culture-negative endocarditis. The main reason for negative blood culture in infectious endocarditis (IE) is administration of antibiotics before sample withdrawal. The study aim was to determine any difference in prognosis between patients with 'aborted' culture-negative endocarditis (A-CNE) and those with true culture-negative endocarditis (T-CNE).

Better prognosis of elderly patients with infectious endocarditis in the era of routine echocardiography and nonrestrictive indications for valve surgery.

Objective: It has been reported that endocarditis in the elderly may have a poor outcome. Our aim was to assess the different features and prognosis, if any, in the present time.

Methods: Of 103 patients with proven endocarditis, 31 were 65 years or older and 72 were younger than 65 years.