Prosthetic valve endocarditis.

PVE is increasingly frequent and often lethal. The classic features of infective endocarditis may be absent early in the course of the illess. Therefore, patients with prosthetic heart valves and fever must be considered candidates for this infection until another cause for the fever can be established. Five to six blood cultures will document the persistent bacteremia of PVE in most cases. Treatment consists of parenteral penicillins for sensitive organisms plus valvular re-replacement for intractable heart failure mechanical malfunction of the valve, persistent sepsis, or multiple major emboli. In spite of aggressive therapy, the mortality remains high. Therefore, appropriate prophylaxis is warranted in patients with prosthetic valves who must undergo procedures that might lead to bacteremia.