A clinical audit on the diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis in a tertiary heart centre in Malaysia

INTRODUCTION: Infective endocarditis (IE) has a high mortality rate in developing countries including Malaysia. This clinical audit aims to identify the shortcomings in the diagnosis and management of IE patients in a local tertiary centre to implement changes for improvement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective audit had two cycles - the first includes all IE patients in Sarawak Heart Centre, Malaysia from January 2020 to December 2022 with different parameters (blood culture, echocardiogram, the appropriateness of antibiotics and surgery) assessed against Malaysian Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG); and reaudit from July 2023 to December 2023. Interventions before re-audit include presentation at different hospital levels and continuing medical education.

RESULTS: Fifty patients were recruited (37 in the first cycle, 13 in the second cycle). The median age was 48.5 years with male predominance. Valve prosthesis (12.0%) and rheumatic heart disease (10.0%) were the commonest predisposing factors. Native mitral (44.0%) and aortic valves (28.0%) were most commonly involved. Twenty-eight (56.0%) patients were culture-positive. In the first cycle, most parameters (culture technique 0.0%, vegetation measured 54.1%, empirical 5.4%, culture-guided 29.7% antibiotics therapy, indicated surgery 0.0%) did not achieve the expected standard except timeliness of echocardiograms and blood culture incubation period. After initial interventions, all parameters showed statistically significant improvement (culture technique p<0.001, echocardiography p<0.001, empirical p<0.001, culture-guided p=0.021, surgery p<0.001) during the re-audit.

CONCLUSION: Compliance with clinical practice guidelines (CPG) on IE management was suboptimal during the first audit but improved after interventions. Hence, regular continuing medical education (CME) is essential, and a written hospital protocol may be useful. Regular audits alongside multidisciplinary teamwork are crucial efforts.