Valve-related factors and incidence of prosthetic valve endocarditis

Introduction
The aim of the study was to present our experience and evaluate the valve-related factors and the incidence of prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Material and methods
This is a retrospective study. Between 2010 and 2018, 36 patients were re-operated on due to prosthetic valve endocarditis The valve-related factors (type, size and position of the prosthetic valve) were analysed.

Results
Thirty-six patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis. The overall hospital mortality was 16.67%. Early vs. late onset prosthetic valve endocarditis mortality was 23.08% vs. 13.04% respectively. The type, size or position of the prosthesis was not associated with prosthetic valve endocarditis. There was a statistically significant difference between occurrence of prosthetic infection between mitral repair and replacement both in mechanical and biological valve groups. The most common infective agent in the early onset group was Staphylococcus aureus, whereas in the late onset group it was Enterococcus faecalis. Out of 13 patients with early prosthetic valve endocarditis, 11 had infection in the perioperative period around primary operation.

Conclusions
Based on our experience, prosthetic valve endocarditis has a high mortality. Early onset prosthetic valve endocarditis is less common but has higher mortality compared to the late onset. Mitral valve repair was less prone to develop prosthetic valve endocarditis, and valve-related factors (type and size of the valve, valve position) did not have any influence on the incidence of prosthetic valve endocarditis.