[Clinical and morphological characteristics of infective endocarditis in HIV-infected drug addicts].

Infective endocarditis (IE) in drug addicts is characterized by the involvement of the right heart with evolving septic pulmonary thromboembolism. Staphylococcus aureus is the causative agent of IE in 71.8% of cases. The specific feature of the course of IE in drug addicts is a relatively low hospital mortality rate (35.5%). The main cause of death was generalized infection with a developing multiple organ dysfunction. Pyonecrotic foci in the organs and tissues and septic vasculitis were histologically detected along with pronounced dystrophic changes. The presence of morphological signs of HIV infection at early stages, as well as viral hepatitis C do not affect mortality rates in drug addicts with IE.