Short-course antibiotic regimen compared to conventional antibiotic treatment for gram-positive cocci infective endocarditis: randomized clinical trial (SATIE).

BACKGROUND: Most serious complications of infective endocarditis (IE) appear in the so-called "critical phase" of the disease, which represents the first days after diagnosis. The majority of patients overcoming the acute phase has a favorable outcome, yet they remain hospitalized for a long period of time mainly to complete antibiotic therapy. The major hypothesis of this trial is that in patients with clinically stable IE and adequate response to antibiotic treatment, without signs of persistent infection, periannular complications or metastatic foci, a shorter antibiotic time period would be as efficient and safe as the classic 4 to 6 weeks antibiotic regimen. METHODS: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled open-label, phase IV clinical trial with a non-inferiority design to evaluate the efficacy of a short course (2 weeks) of parenteral antibiotic therapy compared with conventional antibiotic therapy (4-6 weeks). SAMPLE: patients with IE caused by gram-positive cocci, having received at least 10 days of conventional antibiotic treatment, and at least 7 days after surgery when indicated, without clinical, analytical, microbiological or echocardiographic signs of persistent infection. Estimated sample size: 298 patients. INTERVENTION: Control group: standard duration antibiotic therapy, (4 to 6 weeks) according to ESC guidelines recommendations. Experimental group: short-course antibiotic therapy for 2 weeks. The incidence of the primary composite endpoint of all-cause mortality, unplanned cardiac surgery, symptomatic embolisms and relapses within 6 months after the inclusion in the study will be prospectively registered and compared. CONCLUSIONS: SATIE will investigate whether a two weeks short-course of intravenous antibiotics in patients with IE caused by gram-positive cocci, without signs of persistent infection, is not inferior in safety and efficacy to conventional antibiotic treatment (4-6 weeks). TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04222257 (January 7, 2020). EudraCT 2019-003358-10.

Impact of Valve Culture in the Prognosis of Active Left-sided Infective Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: The culture of removed cardiac tissues during cardiac surgery of left-sided infective endocarditis (LSIE) helps to guide antibiotic treatment. Nevertheless, the prognostic information of a positive valve culture has never been explored. METHODS: Among 1078 cases of LSIE consecutively diagnosed in 3 tertiary centers, we selected patients with positive blood cultures who underwent surgery during the active period of infection and in whom surgical biological tissues were cultured (n = 429). According to microbiological results, we constructed 2 groups: negative valve culture (n=218) and concordant positive valve culture (CPVC) (n=118). We compared their main features and performed a multivariable analysis of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Patients with CPVC presented more nosocomial origin (32% vs 20%, P = .014), more septic shock (21% vs 11%, P = .007), and higher Risk-E score (29% vs 21%, P = .023). Their in-hospital mortality was higher (35% vs 19%, P = .001), despite an earlier surgery (3 vs 11 days from antibiotic initiation, P < .001). Staphylococcus species (61% vs 42%, P = .001) and Enterococcus species (20% vs 9%, P = .002) were more frequent in the CPVC group, whereas Streptococcus species were less frequent (14% vs 42%, P < .001). Independent predictors for in-hospital mortality were renal failure (odds ratio [OR], 2.6 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.5-4.4]), prosthesis (OR, 1.9 [95% CI, 1.1-3.5]), Staphylococcus aureus (OR, 1.8 [95% CI, 1.02-3.3]), and CPVC (OR, 2.3 [95% CI, 1.4-3.9]). CONCLUSIONS: Valve culture in patients with active LSIE is an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality.

Streptococcus bovis endocarditis: Update from a multicenter registry.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) due to Streptococcus bovis has been classically associated with elderly patients, frequently involving >1 valve, with large vegetations and high embolic risk, which make it a high-risk group. Our aim is to analyze the current clinical profile and prognosis of S bovis IE episodes, in comparison to those episodes caused by viridans group streptococci and enterococci. METHODS: We analyzed 1242 consecutive episodes of IE prospectively recruited on an ongoing multipurpose database, of which 294 were streptococcal left-sided IE and comprised our study group. They were classified into 3 groups: group I (n = 47), episodes of IE due to S bovis; group II (n = 134), episodes due to viridans group streptococci; and group III (n = 113), those episodes due to enterococci. RESULTS: The incidence of enterococci IE has significantly increased in the last 2 decades (6.4% [1996-2004] vs 11.1% [2005-2013]; P = .005), whereas the incidence of IE due to S bovis and viridans streptococci have remained stable (4% and 10%, respectively). Gender distribution was similar in the 3 groups. Patients with S bovis and enterococci IE were older than those from group II. Nosocomial acquisition was more frequent in group III. Concerning comorbidity, diabetes mellitus (36.7% vs 9.2% vs 26.8%; P < .001) was more common in groups I and III. Chronic renal failure was more prevalent in patients from group III (4.2% vs 1.5% vs 19%; P < .001). Prosthetic valve IE was more frequent in enterococcal IE. Infection upon normal native valves was more frequent in S bovis IE. Colorectal tumors were found in 69% of patients from this group. Vegetation detection was similar in the 3 groups. However, vegetation size was smaller in S bovis IE. During hospitalization, in-hospital complications and in-hospital mortality were higher in enterococci episodes. CONCLUSIONS: S bovis IE accounts for 3.8% of all IE episodes in our cohort; it is associated with a high prevalence of colonic tumors, with predominance of benign lesions, and affects patients without preexisting valve disease. It is related to small vegetations and a low rate of in-hospital complications, including systemic embolisms. In-hospital mortality is similar to that of viridans group streptococci.

Contemporary epidemiology and prognosis of septic shock in infective endocarditis.

AIMS: The prognosis of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) remains poor despite the great advances in the last decades. One of the factors closely related to mortality is the development of septic shock (SS). The aim of our study was to describe the profile of patients with IE complicated with SS, and to identify prognostic factors of new-onset SS during hospitalization. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a prospective study including 894 episodes of IE diagnosed at three tertiary centres. A backward logistic regression analysis was undertaken to determine prognostic factors associated with SS development. Multivariable analysis identified the following as predictive of SS development: diabetes mellitus [odds ratio (OR) 2.06; confidence interval (CI) 1.16-3.68], Staphylococcus aureus infection (OR: 2.97; CI: 1.72-5.15), acute renal insufficiency (OR: 3.22; CI: 1.28-8.07), supraventricular tachycardia (OR: 3.29; CI: 1.14-9.44), vegetation size ≥15 mm (OR: 1.21; CI: 0.65-2.25), and signs of persistent infection (OR: 9.8; CI: 5.48-17.52). Risk of SS development could be stratified when combining the first five variables: one variable present: 3.8% (CI: 2-7%); two variables present: 6.3% (CI: 3.2-12.1%); three variables present: 14.6% (CI: 6.8-27.6%); four variables present: 29.1% (CI: 11.7-56.1%); and five variables present: 45.4% (95% CI: 17.5-76.6%). When adding signs of persistent infection, the risk dramatically increased, reaching 85.7% (95% CI: 61.2-95.9%) of risk. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with IE, the presence of diabetes, acute renal insufficiency, Staphylococcus aureus infection, supraventricular tachycardia, vegetation size ≥15 mm, and signs of persistent infection are associated with the development of SS.

Prognostic role of persistent positive blood cultures after initiation of antibiotic therapy in left-sided infective endocarditis.

AIM: Persistent infection is not a scientific evidence-based definition. The guidelines of infective endocarditis (IE) establish a cut-off point of 7-10 days, which is arbitrary and probably too long. Our hypothesis is that persistent positive blood cultures after 48-72 h from the initiation of antibiotic therapy are associated with a worse prognosis in patients with left-sided IE. METHODS AND RESULTS: We repeated blood cultures after 48-72 h of the initiation of the antibiotic treatment in 407 patients with left-sided IE of a total of 692 episodes consecutively diagnosed from 1996 to 2011. We have compared the profile of patients whose blood cultures became negative and those with persistent positive blood cultures. We performed a multivariate logistic regression model to determine the prognostic implication of persistent positive blood cultures. Of 256 patients with positive blood cultures at admission, 89 (35%) had persistent positive cultures after 48-72 h from the initiation of the antibiotic treatment. Persistent positive blood cultures (OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2-3.6), age (OR: 1.026; 95% CI: 1.007-1.046), Staphylococcus aureus infection (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.6-6.6), heart failure (OR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.6-4.7), and renal failure (OR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.8-4.9) were found to be independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of persistent positive blood cultures is an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality which doubles the risk of death of patients with left-sided IE. It should be taken into account in the risk stratification of these patients.

The three-noes right-sided infective endocarditis: An unrecognized type of right-sided endocarditis.

The "3 noes right-sided infective endocarditis" (3no-RSIE: no left-sided, no drug users, no cardiac devices) was first described more than a decade ago. We describe the largest series to date to characterize its clinical, microbiological, echocardiographic and prognostic profile. Eight tertiary centers with surgical facilities participated in the study. Patients with right-sided endocarditis without left sided involvement, absence of drug use history and no intracardiac electronic devices were retrospectively included in a multipurpose database. A total of 53 variables were analyzed in every patient. We performed a univariate analysis of in-hospital mortality to determine variables associated with worse prognosis. the study was comprised of 100 patients (mean age 54.1 ± 20 years, 65% male) with definite 3no-RSIE were included (selected from a total of 598 patients with RSIE of all the series, which entails a 16.7% of 3no-RSIE). Most of the episodes were community-acquired (72%), congenital cardiopathies were frequent (32% of the group of patients with previous known predisposing heart disease) and fever was the main manifestation at admission (85%). The microbiological profile was led by Staphylococci spp (52%). Vegetations were detected in 94% of the patients. Global in-hospital mortality was 19% (5.7% in patients operated and 26% in patients who received only medical treatment, P < .001). Non-community acquired infection, diabetes mellitus, right heart failure, septic shock and acute renal failure were more common in patients who died. the clinical profile of 3no-RSIE is closer to other types of RSIE than to LSIE, but mortality is higher than that reported on for other types of RSIE. Surgery may play an important role in improving outcome.

Age-dependent profile of left-sided infective endocarditis: a 3-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The influence of age on the main epidemiological, clinical, echocardiographic, microbiological, and prognostic features of patients with infective endocarditis remains unknown. We present the series with the largest numbers and range of ages of subjects to date that analyzes the influence of age on the main characteristics of patients with isolated left-sided infective endocarditis. Furthermore, this series is the first one in which patients have been distributed according to age quartile. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 600 episodes of left-sided endocarditis consecutively diagnosed in 3 tertiary centers were stratified into age-specific quartiles and 107 variables compared between the different groups. With increasing age, the percentage of women, previous heart disease, predisposing disease (diabetes mellitus and cancer), and infection by enterococci and Streptococcus bovis also increased. Valvular insufficiency and perforation and Staphylococcus aureus infection were more common in younger patients. The therapeutic approach differed depending on patient age because of the growing proportion of older patients who only received medical treatment. Clinical course and hospital prognosis were worse in the older patients because of increased surgical mortality among them. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing age is associated with less valvular impairment (insufficiency and perforation), a more favorable microbiological profile, and increased surgical mortality among adults with left-sided infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis in patients with aortic grafts.

BACKGROUND: Infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with a valve-tube ascending aortic graft (AAG) is a rare entity with a challenging diagnosis and treatment. This study describes the clinical features, diagnosis and outcome of these patients. METHODS: Between 1996 and 2019, 1654 episodes of IE were recruited in 3 centres, of which 37 patients (2.2%) had prosthetic aortic valve and AAG-IE (21 composite valve graft, 16 supracoronary graft) and conformed our study group. RESULTS: Patients with aortic grafts were predominantly male (91.9%) and the mean age was 67.7 years. Staphylococci were the most frequently isolated microorganisms (32%). Viridans group streptococci were only isolated in patients with composite valve graft. TEE was positive in 89.2%. PET/CT was positive in all 15 patients in whom it was performed. Surgical treatment was performed in 62.2% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 16.2%. Heart failure and the type of infected graft (supracoronary aortic graft) were associated with mortality. Mortality among operated patients was 21.7%. Interestingly, 14 patients received antibiotic therapy alone, and only one died. Mortality was lower among patients with a composite valve graft compared to those with a supracoronary graft (4.8% vs 31.3%; p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AAG and prosthetic aortic valve IE, mortality is not higher than in other patients with prosthetic IE. Multimodality imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of these patients. Heart failure and the type of surgery were risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Although surgical treatment is usually recommended, a conservative management might be a valid alternative treatment in selected patients.

Relevance of clinical presentation and period of diagnosis in prosthetic valve endocarditis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aim was to describe the characteristics of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and the clinical presentation in relation to the period of diagnosis. METHODS: In this observational, prospective, multicenter study, data acquired from 100 consecutive cases of PVE were recorded. The period of diagnosis was defined as the time elapsed from valve implantation surgery to the PVE diagnosis. PVE was classified as early (EPVE) if diagnosed during the first eight weeks, intermediate (IPVE) from nine weeks to one year, and late (LVPE) if diagnosed after one year. Variables related to the period of diagnosis and causal microorganisms were compared using a chi-square test. A logistic regression analysis was made for any diagnosis delay greater than 15 days from the first symptoms, periannular extension, surgery, and death during hospitalization. RESULTS: In total, data were collected from 24 patients with EPVE, 29 with IPVE, and 47 with LPVE. Some 59% of the IPVE episodes were caused by low-virulence microorganisms, compared to 29% of the EPVE episodes and 28% of the LPVE episodes (p = 0.017). Similarly, 66% of the IPVE episodes had a diagnosis delay longer than 15 days compared to 50% for LPVE and 20% for EPVE (p = 0.034), while 38% of the EPVE cases presented with fever and severe dyspnea compared to 10% of IPVE and 4% of LPVE cases (p = 0.001). In addition, 24% of the IPVE cases presented as fever and cardiac conduction disturbances, versus 4% for EPVE and 11% for LPVE (p = 0.08). When comparing EPVE with IPVE, the latter had a 69% periannular extension versus 38% for EPVE (p = 0.02) and 48% mortality versus 25%, respectively (p = 0.082). In a multivariate analysis, IPVE was related to the periannular extension of infection compared to EPVE (OR 3.4, 95% CI 0.98-12.1, p = 0.054). Death depended on the periannular extension of infection (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3-8.8, p = 0.011) and septic shock during hospitalization (OR 6.9, 95% CI 2.0-23.7, p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: When diagnosed between nine weeks and one year after valve implantation, IPVE presented with low-grade clinical manifestations, a greater delay in diagnosis, a longer periannular extension and a poorer prognosis than did EPVE.

Predictive model of in-hospital mortality in left-sided infective endocarditis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a complex disease with high in-hospital mortality. Prognostic assessment is essential to select the most appropriate therapeutic approach; however, international IE guidelines do not provide objective assessment of the individual risk in each patient. We aimed to design a predictive model of in-hospital mortality in left-sided IE combining the prognostic variables proposed by the European guidelines. METHODS: Two prospective cohorts of consecutive patients with left-sided IE were used. Cohort 1 (n=1002) was randomized in a 2:1 ratio to obtain 2 samples: an adjustment sample to derive the model (n=688), and a validation sample for internal validation (n=314). Cohort 2 (n=133) was used for external validation. RESULTS: The model included age, prosthetic valve IE, comorbidities, heart failure, renal failure, septic shock, Staphylococcus aureus, fungi, periannular complications, ventricular dysfunction, and vegetations as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. The model showed good discrimination (area under the ROC curve=0.855; 95%CI, 0.825-0.885) and calibration (P value in Hosmer-Lemeshow test=0.409), which were ratified in the internal (area under the ROC curve=0.823; 95%CI, 0.774-0.873) and external validations (area under the ROC curve=0.753; 95%CI, 0.659-0.847). For the internal validation sample (observed mortality: 29.9%) the model predicted an in-hospital mortality of 30.7% (95%CI, 27.7-33.7), and for the external validation cohort (observed mortality: 27.1%) the value was 26.4% (95%CI, 22.2-30.5). CONCLUSIONS: A predictive model of in-hospital mortality in left-sided IE based on the prognostic variables proposed by the European Society of Cardiology IE guidelines has high discriminatory ability.

Contemporary epidemiology and outcomes in recurrent infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: Recurrent infective endocarditis (IE) is a major complication of patients surviving a first episode of IE. This study sought to analyse the current state of recurrent IE in a large contemporary cohort. METHODS: 1335 consecutive episodes of IE were recruited prospectively in three tertiary care centres in Spain between 1996 and 2015. Episodes were categorised into group I (n=1227), first-IE episode and group II (n=108), recurrent IE (8.1%). After excluding six patients, due to lack of relevant data, group II was subdivided into IIa (n=87), reinfection (different microorganism), and IIb (n=15), relapse (same microorganism within 6 months of the initial episode). RESULTS: The cumulative burden and incidence of recurrence was slightly lower in the second decade of the study (2006-2015) (7.17 vs 4.10 events/100 survivors and 7.51% vs 3.82, respectively). Patients with reinfections, compared with group I, were significantly younger, had a higher frequency of HIV infection, were more commonly intravenous drug users (IVDU) and prosthetic valve carriers, had less embolic complications and cardiac surgery, with similar in-hospital mortality. IVDU was found to be an independent predictor of reinfection (HR 3.92, 95% CI 1.86 to 8.28).In the relapse IE group, prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and periannular complications were more common. Among patients treated medically, those with PVE had a higher relapse incidence (4.82% vs 0.43% in native valve IE, p=0.018). Staphylococcus aureus and PVE were independent predictors of relapse (HR 3.14, 95% CI 1.11 to 8.86 and 3.19, 95% CI 1.13 to 9.00, respectively) and in-hospital-mortality was similar to group I. Three-year all-cause mortality was similar in recurrent episodes compared with single episodes. CONCLUSION: Recurrent IE remains a frequent late complication. IVDU was associated with a fourfold increase in the risk of reinfection. PVE treated medically and infections caused by S. aureus increased the risk of relapse. In-hospital and long-term mortality was comparable among groups.

"A contemporary description of staphylococcus aureus prosthetic valve endocarditis. Differences according to the time elapsed from surgery".

Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic valve endocarditis (SAPVE) has a poor prognosis. There are no large series that accurately describe this entity.This is a retrospective observational study on a prospective cohort from 3 Spanish reference hospitals for cardiac surgery, including 78 definitive episodes of left SAPVE between 1996 and 2016.Fifty percent had a Charlson Index score >5; 53% were health care-related. Twenty percent did not present fever. Complications at diagnosis included: severe heart failure (HF, 29%), septic shock (SS, 17.9%), central nervous system abnormalities (19%), septic metastasis (4%). Hemorrhagic stroke was not higher in anticoagulated patients. Twenty-seven percent were methicilin-resistant SA (MRSA). Fifteen of 31 had positive valve culture; it was related to surgery within first 24 hours. At diagnosis, 69% had vegetation (>10 mm in 75%), 21.8% perianular extension, and 20% prosthetic dehiscence. Forty-eight percent had persistent bacteremia, related to nonsurgical treatment. Perianular extension progressed in 18%. Surgery was performed in 35 episodes (12 with stroke). Eleven uncomplicated episodes were managed with medical therapy, 8 survived. In-hospital mortality was 55%, higher in episodes with hemorrhagic stroke (77.8% vs 52.2%, odds ratio 3.2 [0.62-16.55]). Early SAPVE was nosocomial (92%), presented as severe HF (54%), patients were diagnosed and operated on early, 38% died. In intermediate SAPVE (9 weeks-1 year) diagnosis was delayed (24%), patients presented with constitutional syndrome (18%), renal failure (41%), and underwent surgery >72 hours after indication; 53% died. Late SAPVE (>1 year) was related with health care, diagnosis delay, and 60% of deceases.Left SAPVE frequently affected patients with comorbidity and health care contact. Complications at diagnosis and absence of fever were frequent. Presence of MRSA was high. Positive valve culture was related to early surgery. Paravalvular extension was frequent; vegetations were large, but its absence at diagnosis was common. Some uncomplicated SAPVE episodes were safety treated with medical therapy. Surgery was feasible in patients with stroke. Mortality was high. There were differences in some clinical characteristics and in evolution according to the time elapsed from valve replacement. Prognosis was better in early SAPVE.

Brief communication: treatment of Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis with ampicillin plus ceftriaxone.

BACKGROUND: High-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) that precludes bactericidal synergism with penicillins or glycopeptides and nephrotoxicity related to aminoglycoside treatment are major problems in treating Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ampicillin plus ceftriaxone for treating endocarditis due to E. faecalis with and without HLAR. DESIGN: Observational, open-label, nonrandomized, multicenter clinical trial. SETTING: 13 centers in Spain. PATIENTS: 21 patients with HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis and 22 patients with non-HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis. All were at risk for nephrotoxicity related to aminoglycoside use. INTERVENTION: 6-week course of intravenous ampicillin, 2 g every 4 hours, plus intravenous ceftriaxone, 2 g every 12 hours. MEASUREMENTS: Clinical and microbiological outcomes. RESULTS: The clinical cure rate at 3 months was 67.4% (29 of 43 patients) among all episodes. During treatment, 28.6% of patients with HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis and 18.2% of patients with non-HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis died of infection-related causes. The rate of clinical and microbiological cure in patients who completed the protocol was 100% in the HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis group. No episodes of breakthrough bacteremia occurred, although there were 2 relapses in the non-HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis group. Treatment was withdrawn in 1 case because of fever and skin rash. LIMITATIONS: The study had a small sample and was observational. CONCLUSION: The combination of ampicillin and ceftriaxone is effective and safe for treating HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis and could be a reasonable alternative for patients with non-HLAR E. faecalis endocarditis who are at increased risk for nephrotoxicity.

Surgery changes prognosis in infective endocarditis: The importance of post-surgical clinical evolution.

BACKGROUND: Left-sided infective endocarditis (LSIE) bears a grim prognosis and surgery is needed in more than half of the patients to improve survival. Our hypothesis has been that clinical complications developing after surgery impact prognosis. METHODS: Among 1075 consecutive episodes of LSIE, 654 (60.7%) underwent cardiac surgery. Of them, 41 patients (6.3%) died the same day of surgery, 112 (17.2%) died after the first day of surgery during hospital stay and 500 (76.5%) were successfully discharged. We compared the last two groups and performed a multivariable analysis of in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04), periannular complications (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.2) renal failure after surgery (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.3-4.4) but not before surgery, and septic shock after surgery (OR 9.6, 95% CI 5.4-17.1) but not before surgery are predictive of in-hospital death among LSIE patients who underwent cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION: A thorough clinical assessment with prognostic purposes in infective endocarditis after surgery is mandatory. In-hospital mortality of patients with infective endocarditis who undergo surgery depends mainly on the clinical evolution after surgery.

Early surgery for acute-onset infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES: Acute onset of infective endocarditis has been previously linked to the development of septic shock and a worse prognosis. The purpose of this study was to analyse the clinical features and in-hospital evolution of patients with acute-onset endocarditis as well as the potential role of early surgery in the treatment of these patients. METHODS: From 1996 to 2014, 1053 consecutive patients with left-sided endocarditis were prospectively included. Patients were classified into 2 groups according to the clinical presentation: patients with acute-onset endocarditis (n = 491) and patients with non-acute endocarditis (n = 562). Acute-onset endocarditis was considered when the time between the appearance of symptoms and diagnosis was <15 days. RESULTS: At admission, acute renal failure, septic shock and cerebral embolism predominated among patients with acute-onset endocarditis. Staphylococcus aureus was more frequently isolated in patients with an acute onset (27.7% vs 7.8% P < 0.001). During hospitalization, patients with acute onset developed systemic embolism and septic shock more frequently. Death was much more common in this group (42.7 vs 30.1%, P < 0.001). Paravalvular complications, nosocomial infection, heart failure, S. aureus and septic shock were predictors of mortality. Acute-onset presentation of endocarditis was strongly associated with increased mortality. Among patients with acute-onset endocarditis, early surgery, performed within the first 2 days after diagnosis, was associated with a 64% of reduction in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with endocarditis and acute onset of symptoms are at high risk of septic in-hospital complications and mortality. Early surgery, performed within the first 2 days after diagnosis, plays a central role in the treatment of these patients.

Right-sided infective endocarditis in cardiac device carriers: Clinical profile and prognosis. / Endocarditis infecciosa derecha en portadores de dispositivos cardiacos: perfil clínico y pronóstico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Due to the widespread indications for device implants and the population aging, right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) epidemiology has dramatically changed, being nowadays, cardiac device carriers the main affected group. The aim of this work is to describe the epidemiology, clinical profile and outcomes of RSIE in cardiac device carriers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included definitive infective endocarditis episodes consecutively diagnosed in 3 tertiary centers from March 1995 to September 2014. A retrospective analysis of 85 variables, one-year follow up and univariate analysis of in-hospital mortality was conducted. RESULTS: Among 1,182 episodes, 100 cardiac device carriers presented with RSIE (8.5%). Mean age±SD was 67±14 years. Staphylococcus spp. were the main causative microorganisms (coagulase-negative 44%, aureus 31%) and 37% were methicillin-resistant. Cardiac devices were removed in 95% of patients. In-hospital mortality was 8% and one-year mortality was 4%. Univariate analysis demonstrated that renal failure at admission (OR 6.2; 95% CI 1.3-30.3), septic shock (OR 8.9; 95% CI 1.7-47.9) and persistent infection during clinical course (OR 19.4; 95% CI 3-125.7) increase in-hospital mortality while device removal is a protective factor (OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.02-0.39). CONCLUSIONS: RSIE have low in-hospital and one-year mortality. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci is responsible of almost half of the episodes and methicillin-resistant incidence is high. Device removal is mandatory since it decreases in-hospital mortality.

Risk score for cardiac surgery in active left-sided infective endocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate a calculator to predict the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with active infective endocarditis (IE) undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Thousand two hundred and ninety-nine consecutive patients with IE were prospectively recruited (1996-2014) and retrospectively analysed. Left-sided patients who underwent cardiac surgery (n=671) form our study population and were randomised into development (n=424) and validation (n=247) samples. Variables statistically significant to predict in-mortality were integrated in a multivariable prediction model, the Risk-Endocarditis Score (RISK-E). The predictive performance of the score and four existing surgical scores (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) I and II), Prosthesis, Age ≥70, Large Intracardiac Destruction, Staphylococcus, Urgent Surgery, Sex (Female) (PALSUSE), EuroSCORE ≥10) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons's Infective endocarditis score (STS-IE)) were assessed and compared in our cohort. Finally, an external validation of the RISK-E in a separate population was done. RESULTS: Variables included in the final model were age, prosthetic infection, periannular complications, Staphylococcus aureus or fungi infection, acute renal failure, septic shock, cardiogenic shock and thrombocytopaenia. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in the validation sample was 0.82 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.88). The accuracy of the other surgical scores when compared with the RISK-E was inferior (p=0.010). Our score also obtained a good predictive performance, area under the curve 0.76 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.88), in the external validation. CONCLUSIONS: IE-specific factors (microorganisms, periannular complications and sepsis) beside classical variables in heart surgery (age, haemodynamic condition and renal failure) independently predicted perioperative mortality in IE. The RISK-E had better ability to predict surgical mortality in patients with IE when compared with other surgical scores.

Periannular complications in infective endocarditis involving native aortic valves.

The extension of infection in native valve infective endocarditis (IE) from valvular structures to the periannular tissue is incompletely understood. It is unknown, for example, whether the prognosis of patients with aortocavitary fistulae is worse than that of those with nonruptured abscesses. The aims of this study were to determine the distinct clinical characteristics of patients with aortocavitary fistulae and nonruptured abscesses in native valve IE and to evaluate the impact of fistulization on the outcomes of patients with native aortic valve IE complicated with periannular lesions. In a retrospective multicenter study of 2,055 native valve IE episodes, 201 patients (9.8%) with periannular complications in aortic valve IE were identified (46 with aortocavitary fistulization and 155 with nonruptured abscesses). Rates of heart failure (p = 0.07), ventricular septal defect (p <0.001), and third-degree atrioventricular block (p = 0.07) were higher in patients with fistulization. Surgical treatment was undertaken in 172 patients (86%), and in-hospital mortality in the overall population was 29%. Multivariate analysis identified age >60 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3 to 5.2), renal failure (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 6.0), and moderate or severe heart failure (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.2) as independent risk factors for death. There was a trend toward increased in-hospital mortality in patients with aortocavitary fistulae (OR 1.5, 95% CI 0.7 to 3.0). The actuarial 5-year survival rate in surgical survivors was 80% in patients with fistulae and 92% in patients with nonruptured abscesses (log-rank p = 0.6). In conclusion, aortocavitary fistulous tract formation in the setting of native valve IE is associated with higher rates of heart failure, ventricular septal defect, and atrioventricular block than nonruptured abscess. Despite these higher rates of complications, fistulous tract formation in the current era of IE is not an independent risk factor for mortality.

Periannular complications in infective endocarditis involving prosthetic aortic valves.

The periannular extension of infection in prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) is a serious complication of infective endocarditis associated with high mortality. Periannular lesions in PVE occasionally rupture into adjacent cardiac chambers, leading to aortocavitary fistulae and intracardiac shunting. It is unknown whether the prognosis of patients with aortocavitary fistulae is worse than that of those with nonruptured abscesses. The aims of this study were to determine the distinctive clinical characteristics of patients with PVE and either aortocavitary fistulization or nonruptured abscesses. In a retrospective multicenter study of >872 PVE episodes, 150 patients (17%) with periannular complications in PVE in the aortic position were identified (29 with aortocavitary fistulization and 121 with nonruptured abscesses). Early-onset PVE was present in 73 patients (49%). Rates of heart failure (p = 0.09), ventricular septal defect (p <0.01), and third-degree atrioventricular block (p = 0.07) were higher in patients with fistulization. Surgical treatment was undertaken in 128 patients (83%). In-hospital mortality in the overall population was 39%. Multivariate analysis identified heart failure (odds ratio [OR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6 to 6.8), renal failure (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.2), and co-morbidity (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.1) as independent risk factors for death. Fistulous tract formation was not associated with increased in-hospital mortality (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.7 to 3.7). The actuarial 5-year survival rate in surgical survivors was 100% in patients with fistulae and 78% in patients with nonruptured abscesses (log-rank p = 0.14). In conclusion, aortocavitary fistulous tract formation in PVE complicated with periannular complications is associated with higher rates of heart failure, ventricular septal defect, and atrioventricular block than nonruptured abscesses. Despite the frequent complications, fistulous tract formation in the current era of infective endocarditis is not an independent risk factor for mortality.