Study of infective Endocarditis in Neonatal Septicemia

>The aim of this study is to review the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) as a complication of sepsis on normal heart structure and also to evaluate the role of echocardiography in diagnosing IE in cases with neonatal septicemia. The apparent increase in the incidence of infective endocarditis in neonates because of the increasing use of invasive techniques to manage neonates with complex medical problems as well as aggressive treatment in neonatal intensive care unit. Fifty newborns were selected to be septicemic proved by history , clinical examination, and laboratory investigations as complete blood picture, C- reactive protein and blood culture. Echocardiogram was performed for all septic patients for detection of intra-cardiac vegetations and other squelae of the disease. The main lesions found by the echocardiogram were valvular regurgitations. The blood culture performed twice in order to be used later as a major criteria in the diagnosis of IE. We depended on modified Duke criteria in the diagnosis of the definite and possible cases of infective endocarditis. This study should alert the clinician to pay more attention to the incidence of IE among neonatal septicemia, especially when the case deteriorates or do not respond to treatment.