Infectious heart disease deaths on the rise

"The number of people dying from infectious heart disease is rising, according to scientists. Dr Bernard Prendergast from Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital told the Society for General Microbiology's autumn meeting that in spite of recent medical advances such as open heart surgery, antibiotics and medical imaging techniques, infective endocarditis is 'still evolving'. 'Despite all our improvements in health care, the death rate has been virtually unchanged for the last 20 years, and now seems to be rising again,' he said. The cardiologist highlighted a number of issues, such as the increasing occurrence of degenerative heart valve disease as people live for longer..." - British Cardiovascular Society