Clinical characteristics and outcomes of aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis: comparison between transcatheter and surgical bioprostheses.

PURPOSE: Most data regarding infective endocarditis (IE) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) comes from TAVI registries, rather than IE dedicated cohorts. The objective of our study was to compare the clinical and microbiological profile, imaging features and outcomes of patients with IE after SAVR with a biological prosthetic valve (IE-SAVR) and IE after TAVI (IE-TAVI) from 6 centres with an Endocarditis Team (ET) and broad experience in IE. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. From the time of first TAVI implantation in each centre to March 2021, all consecutive patients admitted for IE-SAVR or IE-TAVI were prospectively enrolled. Follow-up was monitored during admission and at 12 months after discharge. RESULTS: 169 patients with IE-SAVR and 41 with IE-TAVI were analysed. Early episodes were more frequent among IE-TAVI. Clinical course during hospitalization was similar in both groups, except for a higher incidence of atrioventricular block in IE-SAVR. The most frequently causative microorganisms were S. epidermidis, Enterococcus spp. and S. aureus in both groups. Periannular complications were more frequent in IE-SAVR. Cardiac surgery was performed in 53.6% of IE-SAVR and 7.3% of IE-TAVI (p=0.001), despite up to 54.8% of IE-TAVI patients had an indication. No differences were observed about death during hospitalization (32.7% vs 35.0%), and at 1-year follow-up (41.8% vs 37.5%), regardless of whether the patient underwent surgery or not. CONCLUSION: Patients with IE-TAVI had a higher incidence of early prosthetic valve IE. Compared to IE-SAVR, IE-TAVI patients underwent cardiac surgery much less frequently, despite having surgical indications. However, in-hospital and 1-year mortality rate was similar between both groups.

Dalbavancin as consolidation antibiotic treatment in infective endocarditis, cardiac implantable electronic devices infection and bacteremia: Clinical experience of 7 years.

INTRODUCTION: Dalbavancin (DBV), a novel lipoglycopeptide with activity against Gram-positive bacterial infections, is approved for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs). It has linear dose-related pharmacokinetics allowing a prolonged interval between doses. It would be a good option for the treatment of patients with Gram-positive cardiovascular infections. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients with cardiovascular infection (infective endocarditis, bacteremia, implantable electronic device infection) treated with DBV at Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid) for 7 years (2016-2022). Patients were divided in two study groups: 1) Infective endocarditis (IE), 2) Bacteremia. Epidemiological, clinical, microbiological and therapeutic data were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 25 patients were treated with DBV for cardiovascular infection. IE was the most common indication (68%), followed by bacteremia (32%) with male predominance in both groups (64% vs 62%) and median age of 67,7 and 57,5 years, respectively. 100% of blood cultures were positive to Gram-positive microorganisms (Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. or Enterococcus spp.) in both study groups. Previously to DBV, all patients received other antibiotic therapy, both in the group of IE (median: 80 days) as in bacteremia (14,8 days). The main reason for the administration of DBV was to continue intravenous antimicrobial therapy outside the hospital in both the EI group (n = 15) and the bacteremia group (n = 8). DBV was used as consolidation therapy in a once- or twice-weekly regimen. Microbiological and clinical successes were reached in 84% of cases (n = 21), 76,4% in IE group and 100% in bacteremia group. No patient documented adverse effects during long-term dalbavancin treatment. CONCLUSION: DBV is an effective and safety treatment as consolidation antibiotic therapy in IE and bacteremia produced by Gram-positive microorganisms.

Parvovirus Infection Triggering Still's Disease.

We present the case of a 59-year-old man with acute B19 parvovirus infection who developed a systemic inflammatory reaction similar to adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD). We discuss the clinical challenge due to overlapping symptoms to distinguish between a primary B19 viral infection and the autoimmune disease it can trigger. LEARNING POINTS: Distinguishing between primary B19 parvovirus infection and autoimmune diseases can be difficult in view of the significant symptom overlap.In our patient, recurrence of symptoms during follow-up and response to treatment were in favour of adult-onset Still's disease triggered by B19 parvovirus.