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Corynebacterium Diphtheriae Endocarditis - Surgery for Some but Not All!

Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales, Australia

For reprint information contact: Clifford F Hughes, AO, FRACS Tel: 61 2 9515 8629 Fax: 61 2 9515 6378 Email: clifford.hughes{at}email.cs.nsw.gov.au, Cardiothoracic Surgical Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae endocarditis was thought to be a rare disease. We reviewed our experience in four cases of this disease treated over a period of 10 years. Seventy cases reported in literature were reviewed. The outcome is good if cases are carefully selected for medical or surgical treatment. We conclude that infective endocarditis due to C. diphtheriae, is perhaps more common than expected. It may be recognized more frequently and on occasion may be an aggressive disease. Those patients with an abnormal valve (including prosthetic valves) should be subjected to surgery at the earliest available opportunity, whereas patients with normal valves may be carefully watched during the course of medical treatment as long as immediate surgery can occur if needed.