Bacterial endocarditis: results of a survey in a children's hospital in France

• Published in: British dental journal Vol. 183; no. 3; pp. 101 - 105
• Main Authors: Droz, D, Koch, L, Lenain, A, Michalski, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 09.08.1997
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antibiotic Prophylaxis - statistics & numerical data; Bacteremia - epidemiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Dental Care - adverse effects; Dentistry; Endocarditis, Bacterial - classification; Endocarditis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Endocarditis, Bacterial - epidemiology; Endocarditis, Bacterial - prevention & control; Female; Focal Infection, Dental - epidemiology; France - epidemiology; Heart Defects, Congenital - epidemiology; Hospitals, Pediatric - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Oral Health; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Tooth Diseases - epidemiology; France
• ISSN: 0007-0610; 1476-5373
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.4809432

Objective : To identify and analyse the risk factors for infective endocarditis. Design : Retrospective survey over a 12-year period. Setting : Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Nancy, France. Subjects : 43 children attending during 1970-1992 who were diagnosed with infective endocarditis in accordance with Von Reyn's classification. Results : 45 episodes of infective endocarditis were recorded (2 children had 2 episodes). Congenital cardiac disease was the most frequent predisposing factor for infective endocarditis. The causes of bacteraemia found were frequently, but not exclusively, of dental origin (30.5%). Among the dental causes were: poor oral health, inappropriate treatments and lack of antibiotic prophylaxis. Conclusions : Children diagnosed with a cardiac disorder should be examined by a dentist. Modern principles of antibiotic therapy and accepted dental procedures must be performed as soon as possible and parents informed of the current preventive recommendations