Surgical outcomes of infective endocarditis among intravenous drug users

Data from two institutions were evaluated for the period 2002-2014 including 436 patients affected by endocarditis, of whom 18% were current intravenous drug users (IVDUs).   IVDUs had a lower risk of operative mortality but had an increased rate of valve-related complications, mostly related to higher rates of reinfection.   

Commentary: http://www.jtcvsonline.org/article/S0022-5223(16)30322-1/fulltext and http://www.jtcvsonline.org/article/S0022-5223(16)30488-3/fulltext