Infective endocarditis in Swedish children. I. Incidence, etiology, underlying factors and port of entry of infection.

A retrospective study of Swedish children with infective endocarditis (IE) during the period 1971-80 was made. Sixty-six instances were identified in 64 children (0.39 cases per 100,000 children per year). Fifty (78%) had a previously known heart disease. Most commonly this was a ventricular septal defect and tetralogy of Fallot. Seventy-one percent had positive blood cultures. Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus aureus were most commonly isolated. Twenty-two percent of the children had undergone previous cardiac surgery. One case closely followed cardiac surgery and in only nine children could a definite port of entry of infection be demonstrated.