Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 Years

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious public health concern due to its high morbidity and lethality. This study investigates epidemiological trends in aortic valve endocarditis, focusing on sex-related differences in microbial etiology and surgical outcomes over a 15-year period. Meth...

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Main Authors: Elisa Mikus, Mariafrancesca Fiorentino, Diego Sangiorgi, Antonino Costantino, Simone Calvi, Elena Tenti, Elena Tremoli, Alberto Tripodi, Carlo Savini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Microbiology Research
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/2/33
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author Elisa Mikus
Mariafrancesca Fiorentino
Diego Sangiorgi
Antonino Costantino
Simone Calvi
Elena Tenti
Elena Tremoli
Alberto Tripodi
Carlo Savini
author_facet Elisa Mikus
Mariafrancesca Fiorentino
Diego Sangiorgi
Antonino Costantino
Simone Calvi
Elena Tenti
Elena Tremoli
Alberto Tripodi
Carlo Savini
author_sort Elisa Mikus
collection DOAJ
description Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious public health concern due to its high morbidity and lethality. This study investigates epidemiological trends in aortic valve endocarditis, focusing on sex-related differences in microbial etiology and surgical outcomes over a 15-year period. Methods: From January 2010 to January 2024, 608 patients underwent cardiac surgery for IE at our center. Of these, 274 patients received isolated aortic valve replacement. This retrospective, single-center study analyzes these cases. Results: Despite a decline in overall aortic valve replacement surgeries, a significant increase in surgeries due to aortic valve endocarditis was observed (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Both sexes showed a rising incidence of aortic valve endocarditis, with females undergoing surgery at an older age, particularly in native valve cases (<i>p</i> = 0.008). In prosthetic valve cases, this age difference was less pronounced (<i>p</i> = 0.050). While sex did not influence microbial etiology in native valve endocarditis, females with prosthetic valves were more frequently infected by <i>Streptococcus</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.033). <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infections increased in native valves (<i>p</i> = 0.016). Conclusions: Over 15 years, surgical aortic valve endocarditis has risen in both sexes. Males are more often affected by native valve cases, while females develop it later. Neither gender nor microbial etiology independently predicts death.
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spelling doaj-art-fe21e9eae94448b686ca984257d1289a2025-08-20T02:44:50ZengMDPI AGMicrobiology Research2036-74812025-01-011623310.3390/microbiolres16020033Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 YearsElisa Mikus0Mariafrancesca Fiorentino1Diego Sangiorgi2Antonino Costantino3Simone Calvi4Elena Tenti5Elena Tremoli6Alberto Tripodi7Carlo Savini8Cardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyCardiovascular Department, Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, ItalyBackground: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious public health concern due to its high morbidity and lethality. This study investigates epidemiological trends in aortic valve endocarditis, focusing on sex-related differences in microbial etiology and surgical outcomes over a 15-year period. Methods: From January 2010 to January 2024, 608 patients underwent cardiac surgery for IE at our center. Of these, 274 patients received isolated aortic valve replacement. This retrospective, single-center study analyzes these cases. Results: Despite a decline in overall aortic valve replacement surgeries, a significant increase in surgeries due to aortic valve endocarditis was observed (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Both sexes showed a rising incidence of aortic valve endocarditis, with females undergoing surgery at an older age, particularly in native valve cases (<i>p</i> = 0.008). In prosthetic valve cases, this age difference was less pronounced (<i>p</i> = 0.050). While sex did not influence microbial etiology in native valve endocarditis, females with prosthetic valves were more frequently infected by <i>Streptococcus</i> (<i>p</i> = 0.033). <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infections increased in native valves (<i>p</i> = 0.016). Conclusions: Over 15 years, surgical aortic valve endocarditis has risen in both sexes. Males are more often affected by native valve cases, while females develop it later. Neither gender nor microbial etiology independently predicts death.https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/2/33sexbacterial endocarditisnative aortic valveprosthetic aortic valve
spellingShingle Elisa Mikus
Mariafrancesca Fiorentino
Diego Sangiorgi
Antonino Costantino
Simone Calvi
Elena Tenti
Elena Tremoli
Alberto Tripodi
Carlo Savini
Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 Years
Microbiology Research
sex
bacterial endocarditis
native aortic valve
prosthetic aortic valve
title Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 Years
title_full Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 Years
title_fullStr Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 Years
title_full_unstemmed Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 Years
title_short Sex Differences and Pathogen Patterns in Surgically Treated Aortic Valve Endocarditis over 15 Years
title_sort sex differences and pathogen patterns in surgically treated aortic valve endocarditis over 15 years
topic sex
bacterial endocarditis
native aortic valve
prosthetic aortic valve
url https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/16/2/33
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