Bacterial Endocarditis — A Changing Pattern

IN recent years there have been changes in many of the factors which influence the development and outcome of bacterial endocarditis. These changes relate to both the susceptible host and the causative organism. Rheumatic fever, for example, appears to be declining in incidence and severity.1 , 2 More cases of bacterial endocarditis are being encountered in elderly persons with no history of valvular disease or murmurs.3 In addition, many more patients are being treated with corticosteroid hormones, immunosuppressive agents and extensive radiotherapy, all of which interfere with normal mechanisms of host resistance.4 , 5 The use of newly developed technics in cardiac surgery, such . . .