Characteristics of Infective Endocarditis in Children with Congenital Heart Disease at the Cardiovascular Center, E Hospital

Objective: To describe the clinical and paraclinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study combining retrospective and prospective data collection was conducted from December 2019 to May 2025. Results: 19 patients were diagnosed with IE, with a mean age of 8.18 ± 5.26 years. Among them, 52.6% were male and 47.4% were female. The most common underlying conditions associated with IE were repaired Tetralogy of Fallot with prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement (42.1%) and ventricular septal defect (21.1%). Persistent fever above 38°C was the most common clinical manifestation. Blood cultures were positive for Streptococcus species in 40% of cases. The pulmonary valve was the most frequent site of vegetation. The mortality rate was 10.2%. Conclusion: IE in children with CHD commonly involves the right side of the heart, and the most frequent causative organisms are Streptococcus species originating from the oral cavity and oropharynx. Early detection is essential in high-risk patients presenting with prolonged fever.