Slovenská chirurgia 1e/2025
Native valve infective endocarditis in the population under 50 years of age
The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze infective endocarditis (IE) in patients under 50 years of age treated at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, VÚSCH, between 2012 and 2024. The cohort included 50 patients, divided into three groups: intravenous drug users, patients on hemodialysis, and others. Collected data included patient history, causative pathogens, affected valves, mortality and the presence of bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Results showed a high incidence of IE among i.v. drug users (40 %) and increased occurrence of BAV in the remaining group. The etiological role of BAV and prevention strategies are discussed. The study confirms an increasing trend of IE in younger populations and highlights the need for targeted prevention.
Keywords: infective endocarditis, hemodialysis, drug abuse, bicuspid aortic valve, etiological agent