INFECTIOUS ENDOCARDITIS TO AN INJECTABLE DRUG USER

Abstract

Background. Injecting drug users are a particular category of patients, where infectious pathology, including infectious endocarditis, is much more common. In Romania, in 2016 there were about 21,000 opioid users (www.ana.gov.ro). Besides opioid drugs, there are also ethnobotanics and a growing trend of injecting amphetamines. Material and methods. We present the case of a young drug user diagnosed in our hospital with infected mitral valve infectious endocarditis. Particularities consist of the type of affected valve and the involvement of a strain of methicillin-sensitive aureus staphylococcus (in a patient with multiple risk factors for infection with multi-resistant strains). Results. Clinical evolution is with many ups and downs because different complications occur, but after 54 days of hospitasization he is out, then valvular surgery takes place and he returns to our clinic for the antibiotic consolidation treatment. Conclusions. This is a case of severe infection in an IDU, with many features indicating a posible negative evolution. Proper antibiotic treatment, associated with other complementary medical interventions, conducted to the favorable uotcome of this young patient.

Keywords

• infectious endocarditis
• injecting drug users
• mitral valve
• methicilin-sensitive staphylococcus aureus