Pediatric infective endocarditis and congenital heart disease

Abstract

Pediatric infective endocarditis (PIE) is an infection of the endocardial surface of a child's heart. Children with abnormal hearts from congenital heart disease are at higher risk for PIE. This chapter describes the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of PIE - focusing on children with congenital heart defects. In the future, the incidence of PIE will likely continue to increase and the etiologic agents will likely become more difficult to treat as antimicrobial resistance increases. Research is needed in the areas of primary prevention of PIE, improved diagnostic methods for PIE and effective therapies for PIE caused by multidrug resistant pathogens. In the interim, health care providers need to be cognizant of PIE in children with CHD because early diagnosis and therapy can decrease morbidity and mortality.