Surgical Debridement for Resistant Bacterial Endocarditis

Abstract

Endocarditis caused by<i>Serratia</i>rarely responds well to antibiotics, and is usually fatal. Such infection occurred on the tricuspid valve in a patient with a history of drug abuse. After a prolonged course of antimicrobial therapy, the patient underwent exploratory cardiac surgery without cardiac failure. Surgical debridement of the tricuspid valve effected an apparent cure. Cardiac surgery during active bacterial endocarditis has proved to be a reasonable procedure. Medically resistant infection should be added to the traditional indications for cardiac surgery.