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Review
. 2022 Aug 19;17(1):185.
doi: 10.1186/s13019-022-01932-5.

Infective endocarditis by HACEK: a review

Mansoor Khaledi  1   2 , Fatemeh Sameni  1 , Hamed Afkhami  1 , Jaber Hemmati  3 , Aram Asareh Zadegan Dezfuli  4 , Mohammad-Javad Sanae  2 , Majid Validi  5
Affiliations
Review

Infective endocarditis by HACEK: a review

Mansoor Khaledi et al. J Cardiothorac Surg. .

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a severe disease that is still associated with high mortality despite recent advances in diagnosis and treatment. HACEK organisms (Haemophilus spp., Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella kingae) are gram-negative bacteria that are part of the normal flora of the mouth and upper respiratory tract in humans. These organisms cause a wide range of infections, of which IE is one of the most notable. In order to control and prevent endocarditis caused by HACEK, measures such as oral hygiene and the use of prophylactic drugs should be used for people at risk, including people with underlying heart disease and people with artificial valves. This review is a summary of the main aspects of IE focusing on HACEK organisms.

Keywords: Congenital heart disease; Echocardiography; Endocarditis; HACEK.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagnosis of IE
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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