Prevalence of bacteria in the circulation of cardiovascular disease patients, Madurai, India.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have a complex aetiology determined by risk factors, which include genetic and environmental factors. Chronic infection and inflammation is reported to be a pathogenic determinant for the development of CVDs. Here, we report the prevalence of bacterial pathogens in the circulation of CVD patients in Madurai, India. Blood culturing was performed using BD BACTEC automated culture system and organisms were identified by16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. From a total of 133 samples screened, 47 samples showed culture positive which indicates a high level of bacteraemia in CVD patients. From the 47 samples that showed growth, we have identified 57 bacterial isolates comprising 35 different species. Coagulase negative Staphylococci (CoNS) was the most predominant group of bacteria and other notable bacterial species isolated in this study are discussed.