Table 1. Clinical characteristics and demographics in the 55 patients with infective endocarditis .
| Sex (male/female) | 40/15 |
| Age (year)* | 51 ± 21 (30-72) |
| Pre-existing risk factors# | |
| Traumatic open skin wound | 17 (31%) |
| Intravenous drug abuse | 8 (15%) |
| Dental therapy | 1 (1.8%) |
| Catheter insertion for dialysis | 1 (1.8%) |
| Pre-existing heart | |
| disease# | |
| Pre-existing valve disease | 28 (51%) |
| Mitral valve prolapse | 9 (16%) |
| Prosthetic valve | 9 (16%) |
| Ventricular septal defect | 1 (1.8%) |
| Comorbidity# | |
| Alcoholism | 7 (13%) |
| Liver cirrhosis | 7 (13%) |
| Diabetes | 5 (9.1%) |
| Chronic renal failure | 3 (5.5%) |
| Hemodialysis | 1 (1.8%) |
* Mean ± SD. # Values are expressed as number of cases (%).