Atopic dermatitis as a risk factor for acute native valve endocarditis.

Colonization of Staphylococcus aureus is commonly observed in skin lesions of atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, and scratching of the pruritic lesions may lead to reiterative bacteremia. It is possible that acute native valve endocarditis may develop in a patient with uncontrolled AD; the latter condition may be a risk factor for the former. We report two cases of acute aortic and/or mitral valve endocarditis complicated with recurrent cutaneous infections caused by severe AD. The patients underwent successful surgical treatment of the heart lesions, plus intensive postoperative antibiotics and skin treatment for AD.