In a series of 24 children with bacterial endocarditis and underlying congenital or rheumatic heart disease, therapy resulted in an 83% recovery rate.
A series of 24 cases of bacterial endocarditis occurring in younger individuals, with either congenital or rheumatic heart disease, is presented. A recovery rate of 83% was obtained. The clinical features, bacteriology and therapy are discussed along with complicating factors arising during therapy. In the group with cyanotic congenital heart disease, bacterial endocarditis occurred most commonly in those with tetralogy of Fallot. In the acyanotic group there was a slight predominance of those with ventricular septal defect and coarctation of the aorta. In the patients with rheumatic heart disease, mitral insufficiency was the predominant lesion.
Cutler et al. (Wed,) studied this question.