Molecular diagnosis of infective endocarditis from culture-negative valve samples in a tertiary hospital in Iran

• DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01856-24
• Publication Date: 2025-01-31T14:06:07Z
• Authors: Mohammad Reza Moh...; Ashraf Mohabbati ...; Mohammad Ali Brou...; Neda Baseri; Mina Latifian; Saber Esmaeili
• Keywords: Infective Endocarditis

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence Tropheryma whipplei, Chlamydia psittaci, pneumoniae, Legionella, Brucella, and Francisella tularensis in valve samples from endocarditis patients using real-time PCR method at a major referral heart hospital Iran. In study, 146 paraffin-embedded tissue valves with clinical pathological evidence infective (IE), who underwent replacement surgery between 2016 2020 Tehran Heart Center were collected. After DNA extraction samples, they surveyed for presence T. C. F. quantitative (qPCR). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis used accurate species identification. Based on molecular results, spp., Legionella spp. detected 10 (6.84%), 6 (4.1%), 3 (2.05%) respectively. addition, one six positive identified as psittaci. No Brucella found. all control negative investigated pathogens. findings suggest that specific bacterial such are associated development IE. Considering life-threatening nature IE, it is critical healthcare systems prioritize identification its causative agents develop targeted treatment strategies.IMPORTANCEInfective (IE) serious potentially condition, significant morbidity, mortality, complications, making concern both global national systems. Late diagnosis failure receive appropriate culture-negative caused by hard-to-grow bacteria can lead death patients. Unfortunately, Iran, less attention paid role organisms difficult cultivate laboratory settings causing endocarditis, these pathogens overlooked infectious, cardiologists, health officials. This underscores need special