Molecular diagnosis of infective endocarditis from culture-negative valve samples in a tertiary hospital in Iran

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, and it is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and complications, making it a major concern in both global and national healthcare systems. Late diagnosis and failure to receive appropriate treatment for patients with culture-negative endocarditis caused by hard-to-grow bacteria can lead to the death of patients. Unfortunately, in Iran, less attention is paid to the role of organisms that are difficult to cultivate in laboratory settings such as Tropheryma whipplei, Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Legionella, Brucella, and Francisella tularensis in causing culture-negative endocarditis, and these pathogens are overlooked by infectious, cardiologists, and health officials. This study underscores the need for special attention in the diagnosis of the agents of IE.