Aortic valve endocarditis. Determinants of early survival and late morbidity.

Abstract

These data suggest that for active endocarditis, surgery should be delayed to achieve a healed status provided there is no pressing need for immediate surgery. Patients with staphylococcal endocarditis, particularly on a prosthesis, should be operated on sooner and should be covered with antibiotics for an extended period to prevent recurrent PVE. This study stresses the need for aggressive antibiotic prophylaxis, particularly in the presence of a prosthesis.