Non-toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae infective endocarditis with embolic events: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae) infections, usually related to upper airways involvement, could be highly invasive. Especially in developing countries, non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae strains are now emerging as cause of invasive disease like endocarditis. The present case stands out for reinforcing the high virulence of this pathogen, demonstrated by the multiple systemic embolism and severe valve deterioration. It also emphasizes the importance of a coordinated interdisciplinary work to address all these challenges related to infectious endocarditis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 21-year-old male cocaine drug abuser presented to the emergency department with a 1-week history of fever, asthenia and dyspnea. His physical examination revealed a mitral systolic murmur, signs of acute arterial occlusion of the left lower limb, severe arterial hypotension and acute respiratory failure, with need of vasoactive drugs, orotracheal intubation/mechanical ventilation, empiric antimicrobial therapy and emergent endovascular treatment. The clinical suspicion of acute infective endocarditis was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography, demonstrating a large vegetation on the mitral valve associated with severe valvular regurgitation. Abdominal ultrasound was normal with no hepatic, renal, or spleen abscess. Serial blood cultures and thrombus culture, obtained in the vascular procedure, identified non-toxigenic C. diphtheriae, with antibiotic therapy adjustment to monotherapy with ampicillin. Since the patient had a severe septic shock with sustained fever, despite antimicrobial therapy, urgent cardiac surgical intervention was planned. Anatomical findings were compatible with an aggressive endocarditis, requiring mitral valve replacement for a biological prosthesis. During the postoperative period, despite an initial clinical recovery and successfully weaning from mechanical ventilation, the patient presented with a recrudescent daily fever. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a hypoattenuating and extensive splenic lesion suggestive of abscess. After sonographically guided bridging percutaneous catheter drainage, surgical splenectomy was performed. Despite left limb revascularization, a forefoot amputation was required due to gangrene. The patient had a good clinical recovery, fulfilling 4-weeks of antimicrobial treatment. CONCLUSION: Despite the effectiveness of toxoid-based vaccines, recent global outbreaks of invasive C. diphtheriae infectious related to non-toxigenic strains have been described. These infectious could be highly invasive as demonstrated in this case. Interdisciplinary work with an institutional "endocarditis team" is essential to achieve favorable clinical outcomes in such defiant scenarios.

Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score in Brazil: Comparison with InsCor and the EuroSCORE / Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score no Brasil: Comparação com o InsCor e o EuroSCORE

AbstractBackground:Risk scores for cardiac surgery cannot continue to be neglected.Objective:To assess the performance of “Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score” (ACEF Score) to predict mortality in patients submitted to elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or heart valve surgery, and to compare it to other scores.Methods:A prospective cohort study was carried out with the database of a Brazilian tertiary care center. A total of 2,565 patients submitted to elective surgeries between May 2007 and July 2009 were assessed. For a more detailed analysis, the ACEF Score performance was compared to the InsCor’s and EuroSCORE’s performance through correlation, calibration and discrimination tests.Results:Patients were stratified into mild, moderate and severe for all models. Calibration was inadequate for ACEF Score (p = 0.046) and adequate for InsCor (p = 0.460) and EuroSCORE (p = 0.750). As for discrimination, the area under the ROC curve was questionable for the ACEF Score (0.625) and adequate for InsCor (0.744) and EuroSCORE (0.763).Conclusion:Although simple to use and practical, the ACEF Score, unlike InsCor and EuroSCORE, was not accurate for predicting mortality in patients submitted to elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or heart valve surgery in a Brazilian tertiary care center. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2015; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

ResumoFundamento:Escores de risco para cirurgia cardíaca não podem continuar sendo neglicenciados.Objetivo:Avaliar o desempenho do Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score (ACEF Score) na predição de mortalidade dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica e/ou valvar eletiva, e compará-lo a outros escores.Métodos:Estudo de coorte prospectivo no banco de um centro terciário brasileiro. Foram avaliados 2.565 pacientes operados de maneira eletiva entre maio de 2007 e julho de 2009. Para uma análise mais detalhada, o desempenho do ACEF Score foi comparado ao do InsCor e ao do EuroSCORE por meio de testes de correlação, calibração e discriminação.Resultados:Os pacientes foram estratificados em leve, moderado e grave para todos os modelos. A calibração foi inadequada para o ACEF Score (p = 0,046) e adequada para o InsCor (p = 0,460) e o EuroSCORE (p = 0,750). Na discriminação, a área abaixo da curva ROC apresentou-se questionável para o ACEF Score (0,625) e apropriada para o InsCor (0,744) e o EuroSCORE (0,763).Conclusão:Embora simples e prático, o ACEF Score, ao contrário do InsCor e do EuroSCORE, não se mostrou acurado para predizer mortalidade nos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica e/ou valvar eletiva em centro terciário brasileiro. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2015; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score in Brazil: Comparison with InsCor and the EuroSCORE.

BACKGROUND: Risk scores for cardiac surgery cannot continue to be neglected. OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of "Age, Creatinine and Ejection Fraction Score" (ACEF Score) to predict mortality in patients submitted to elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or heart valve surgery, and to compare it to other scores. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out with the database of a Brazilian tertiary care center. A total of 2,565 patients submitted to elective surgeries between May 2007 and July 2009 were assessed. For a more detailed analysis, the ACEF Score performance was compared to the InsCor's and EuroSCORE's performance through correlation, calibration and discrimination tests. RESULTS: Patients were stratified into mild, moderate and severe for all models. Calibration was inadequate for ACEF Score (p = 0.046) and adequate for InsCor (p = 0.460) and EuroSCORE (p = 0.750). As for discrimination, the area under the ROC curve was questionable for the ACEF Score (0.625) and adequate for InsCor (0.744) and EuroSCORE (0.763). CONCLUSION: Although simple to use and practical, the ACEF Score, unlike InsCor and EuroSCORE, was not accurate for predicting mortality in patients submitted to elective coronary artery bypass graft and/or heart valve surgery in a Brazilian tertiary care center.

Cardiac Surgery Costs According to the Preoperative Risk in the Brazilian Public Health System / Custos das Cirurgias Cardíacas Segundo o Risco Pré-Operatório no Sistema Público de Saúde Brasileiro

AbstractBackground:Heart surgery has developed with increasing patient complexity.Objective:To assess the use of resources and real costs stratified by risk factors of patients submitted to surgical cardiac procedures and to compare them with the values reimbursed by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS).Method:All cardiac surgery procedures performed between January and July 2013 in a tertiary referral center were analyzed. Demographic and clinical data allowed the calculation of the value reimbursed by the Brazilian SUS. Patients were stratified as low, intermediate and high-risk categories according to the EuroSCORE. Clinical outcomes, use of resources and costs (real costs versus SUS) were compared between established risk groups.Results:Postoperative mortality rates of low, intermediate and high-risk EuroSCORE risk strata showed a significant linear positive correlation (EuroSCORE: 3.8%, 10%, and 25%; p < 0.0001), as well as occurrence of any postoperative complication EuroSCORE: 13.7%, 20.7%, and 30.8%, respectively; p = 0.006). Accordingly, length-of-stay increased from 20.9 days to 24.8 and 29.2 days (p < 0.001). The real cost was parallel to increased resource use according to EuroSCORE risk strata (R$ 27.116,00 ± R$ 13.928,00 versus R$ 34.854,00 ± R$ 27.814,00 versus R$ 43.234,00 ± R$ 26.009,00, respectively; p < 0.001). SUS reimbursement also increased (R$ 14.306,00 ± R$ 4.571,00 versus R$ 16.217,00 ± R$ 7.298,00 versus R$ 19.548,00 ± R$935,00; p < 0.001). However, as the EuroSCORE increased, there was significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the real cost increasing slope and the SUS reimbursement elevation per EuroSCORE risk strata.Conclusion:Higher EuroSCORE was related to higher postoperative mortality, complications, length of stay, and costs. Although SUS reimbursement increased according to risk, it was not proportional to real costs.

ResumoFundamentos:A cirurgia cardíaca evoluiu progressivamente com o aumento da complexidade dos pacientes.Objetivo:Avaliar a utilização de recursos e o custo real segundo o grupo de risco dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca, e compará-los com o valor ressarcido pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS).Método:Foram analisadas todas as cirurgias cardíacas realizadas entre janeiro e julho de 2013 em um centro terciário. Dados demográficos e clínicos permitiram o cálculo do valor ressarcido pelo SUS. Os pacientes foram estratificados em baixo, médio e alto risco pelo EuroSCORE. Os resultados clínicos, o uso de recursos e os custos (real versus SUS) foram comparados entre os grupos de risco estabelecidos.Resultados:Taxas de mortalidade pós-operatória de baixo, intermediário e alto risco apresentaram correlação linear positiva (EuroSCORE: 3,8%, 10% e 25%, respectivamente; p < 0,0001), assim como a ocorrência de alguma complicação pós-operatória (EuroSCORE: 13,7%, 20,7% e 30,8%, respectivamente; p = 0,006). O tempo de internação aumentou de 20,9 para 24,8 e 29,2 dias, respectivamente (p < 0,001). O custo real foi paralelo ao aumento da utilização de recursos, segundo o EuroSCORE (R$ 27.116,00 ± R$13.928,00 versus R$ 34.854,00 ± R$ 27.814,00 versus R$ 43.234,00 ± R$ 26.009,00, respectivamente; p < 0,001). O ressarcimento do SUS também aumentou (R$ 14.306,00 ± R$ 4.571,00 versus R$ 16.217,00 ± R$ 7.298,00 versus R$ 19.548,00 ± R$ 935,00; p < 0,001). Mesmo com aumento do EuroSCORE, houve diferença (p < 0,0001) progressiva entre o incremento do custo real e o ressarcimento do SUS.Conclusão:O aumento do EuroSCORE esteve relacionado a maiores morbimortalidade, tempo de internação e custos no pós-operatório. Embora o ressarcimento do SUS também aumente conforme o risco, ele não é proporcional ao custo real.

Cardiac surgery costs according to the preoperative risk in the Brazilian public health system.

BACKGROUND: Heart surgery has developed with increasing patient complexity. OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of resources and real costs stratified by risk factors of patients submitted to surgical cardiac procedures and to compare them with the values reimbursed by the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). METHOD: All cardiac surgery procedures performed between January and July 2013 in a tertiary referral center were analyzed. Demographic and clinical data allowed the calculation of the value reimbursed by the Brazilian SUS. Patients were stratified as low, intermediate and high-risk categories according to the EuroSCORE. Clinical outcomes, use of resources and costs (real costs versus SUS) were compared between established risk groups. RESULTS: Postoperative mortality rates of low, intermediate and high-risk EuroSCORE risk strata showed a significant linear positive correlation (EuroSCORE: 3.8%, 10%, and 25%; p < 0.0001), as well as occurrence of any postoperative complication EuroSCORE: 13.7%, 20.7%, and 30.8%, respectively; p = 0.006). Accordingly, length-of-stay increased from 20.9 days to 24.8 and 29.2 days (p < 0.001). The real cost was parallel to increased resource use according to EuroSCORE risk strata (R$ 27.116,00 ± R$ 13.928,00 versus R$ 34.854,00 ± R$ 27.814,00 versus R$ 43.234,00 ± R$ 26.009,00, respectively; p < 0.001). SUS reimbursement also increased (R$ 14.306,00 ± R$ 4.571,00 versus R$ 16.217,00 ± R$ 7.298,00 versus R$ 19.548,00 ± R$935,00; p < 0.001). However, as the EuroSCORE increased, there was significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the real cost increasing slope and the SUS reimbursement elevation per EuroSCORE risk strata. CONCLUSION: Higher EuroSCORE was related to higher postoperative mortality, complications, length of stay, and costs. Although SUS reimbursement increased according to risk, it was not proportional to real costs.