WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Ahmed Saleem Rasool, *Ali Ghanim Jadaan Algburi, Amer Naes Amer

ABSTRACT

Background: Complications of structural heart disease, such as infectious endocarditis, are a major cause of death and disability. Prolonged and frequently intensive medical and surgical treatments continue to impose a heavy financial and overall morbidity burden. Aim of study: to evaluate clinical, laboratory presentations and in-hospital outcomes of IE. Patients and methods: This was a prospective descriptive study which included 30 patients aged < 18 years old and diagnosed with Infective Endocarditis for a period of one year from December 2024 to December 2025. A detailed history was taken, clinical examination was done, laboratory tests including blood culture were sent and serial transthoracic echocardiography was done. Results: In this study, congenital heart disease was the underlying factor in 90% of patients and VSD accounts for the vast majority patients (40%). Fever was the most presenting symptom of 76%. Twelve patients (40%) had a negative blood culture. Among patients with positive blood culture; Staphylococcus aureus was the most common causative microorganism in this study with 37% patients followed by Viridans-group streptococci in 16.7% of patients. Complications had occurred in 16.7% of patients, 10% of them developed thromboembolic events and 6.7% developed acute renal injury. The mortality rate in our study was 10%. Conclusion: IE is not uncommon disease in Iraq; CHD is the main underlying cause. Frequent use of antibiotics leads to increase the percentage of culture negative IE. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common causative microorganism due to the rise in survival, surgical intervention, and invasive procedures of children with CHD.

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