Legionella endocarditis: A case report and review.

BACKGROUND: Legionella is a well known but infrequent cause of bacterial endocarditis. METHODS: We report a case of endocarditis caused by Legionella spp. We reviewed previously reported cases in PubMed, Google Scholar and in references included in previous reports, and summarized relevant clinical data. RESULTS: A 63-year-old man with a history of aortic valve replacement developed persistent fever and monoarthritis. Transesophageal echocardiography showed perivalvular abscess. He died during surgery. Blood and valve cultures were negative. Legionella spp. was demonstrated with 16S-rRNA PCR from the resected material. Twenty cases of Legionella endocarditis have been reported. Harboring a prosthetic valve was the main risk factor. Prognosis was favorable, both for patients treated with or without surgical valve replacement. Overall mortality was <10%. CONCLUSIONS: Legionella is an infrequent cause of endocarditis. It frequently requires surgical treatment. Prognosis is good. Molecular techniques are likely to become the gold standard for diagnosis.

Mural Endocarditis: The GAMES Registry Series and Review of the Literature.

INTRODUCTION: Mural infective endocarditis (MIE) is a rare type of endovascular infection. We present a comprehensive series of patients with mural endocarditis. METHODS: Patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) from 35 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included in the GAMES registry between 2008 and 2017. MIEs were compared to non-MIEs. We also performed a literature search for cases of MIE published between 1979 and 2019 and compared them to the GAMEs series. RESULTS: Twenty-seven MIEs out of 3676 IEs were included. When compared to valvular IE (VIE) or device-associated IE (DIE), patients with MIE were younger (median age 59 years, p < 0.01). Transplantation (18.5% versus 1.6% VIE and 2% DIE, p < 0.01), hemodialysis (18.5% versus 4.3% VIE and 4.4% DIE, p = 0.006), catheter source (59.3% versus 9.7% VIE and 8.8% DIE, p < 0.01) and Candida etiology (22.2% versus 2% DIE and 1.2% VIE, p < 0.01) were more common in MIE, whereas the Charlson Index was lower (4 versus 5 in non-MIE, p = 0.006). Mortality was similar. MIE from the literature shared many characteristics with MIE from GAMES, although patients were younger (45 years vs. 56 years, p < 0.001), the Charlson Index was lower (1.3 vs. 4.3, p = 0.0001), catheter source was less common (13.9% vs. 59.3%) and there were more IVDUs (25% vs. 3.7%). S. aureus was the most frequent microorganism (50%, p = 0.035). Systemic complications were more common but mortality was similar. CONCLUSION: MIE is a rare entity. It is often a complication of catheter use, particularly in immunocompromised and hemodialysis patients. Fungal etiology is common. Mortality is similar to other IEs.

Legionella endocarditis: A case report and review.

BACKGROUND: Legionella is a well known but infrequent cause of bacterial endocarditis. METHODS: We report a case of endocarditis caused by Legionella spp. We reviewed previously reported cases in PubMed, Google Scholar and in references included in previous reports, and summarized relevant clinical data. RESULTS: A 63-year-old man with a history of aortic valve replacement developed persistent fever and monoarthritis. Transesophageal echocardiography showed perivalvular abscess. He died during surgery. Blood and valve cultures were negative. Legionella spp. was demonstrated with 16S-rRNA PCR from the resected material. Twenty cases of Legionella endocarditis have been reported. Harboring a prosthetic valve was the main risk factor. Prognosis was favorable, both for patients treated with or without surgical valve replacement. Overall mortality was <10%. CONCLUSIONS: Legionella is an infrequent cause of endocarditis. It frequently requires surgical treatment. Prognosis is good. Molecular techniques are likely to become the gold standard for diagnosis.

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. RESULTS: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32-3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39-1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16-1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. CONCLUSION: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group.

Legionella endocarditis: A case report and review / Endocarditis por Legionella: caso clínico y revisión

BackgroundLegionella is a well known but infrequent cause of bacterial endocarditis.MethodsWe report a case of endocarditis caused by Legionella spp. We reviewed previously reported cases in PubMed, Google Scholar and in references included in previous reports, and summarized relevant clinical data.ResultsA 63-year-old man with a history of aortic valve replacement developed persistent fever and monoarthritis. Transesophageal echocardiography showed perivalvular abscess. He died during surgery. Blood and valve cultures were negative. Legionella spp. was demonstrated with 16S-rRNA PCR from the resected material. Twenty cases of Legionella endocarditis have been reported. Harboring a prosthetic valve was the main risk factor. Prognosis was favorable, both for patients treated with or without surgical valve replacement. Overall mortality was <10%.ConclusionsLegionella is an infrequent cause of endocarditis. It frequently requires surgical treatment. Prognosis is good. Molecular techniques are likely to become the gold standard for diagnosis.

IntroducciónLegionella es una causa bien conocida, aunque infrecuente, de endocarditis bacteriana.MétodosA continuación, presentamos un caso de endocarditis por Legionella spp. Hemos revisado los casos publicados hasta la fecha en PubMed, Google Scholar y otras referencias incluidas en las comunicaciones previas, y resumimos aquí los datos clínicos relevantes. Un varón de 63 años con historia de recambio valvular aórtico desarrolló fiebre y monoartritis por lo que se realizó un ecocardiograma transesofágico que demostró un absceso perivalvular. Se decidió tratamiento quirúrgico, y el paciente falleció durante la cirugía. Los cultivos tanto de sangre como valvulares fueron negativos. El análisis mediante 16S rRNA PCR del material valvular resecado durante la cirugía demostró Legionella spp. Se han publicado un total de veinte casos de endocarditis por Legionella en la literatura médica. El principal factor de riesgo observado fue la presencia de una válvula protésica. El pronóstico fue bueno tanto para los pacientes tratados de manera conservadora como para aquellos sometidos a recambio valvular quirúrgico. La mortalidad global fue <10%.ConclusionesLegionella es una causa infrecuente de endocarditis. Generalmente requiere tratamiento quirúrgico. El pronóstico es bueno. Las técnicas moleculares podrían convertirse en el método de referencia para su diagnóstico.

[Relationship between C-reactive protein level and early recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion]. / Relación entre concentraciones de proteína C reactiva y recurrencia precoz de la fibrilación auricular tras cardioversión eléctrica.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Atrial remodeling is responsible for the early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardioversion. Recently, it has been shown that the C-reactive protein (CRP) level is elevated in patients with AF, indicating that inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of this arrhythmia. We postulated that a high CRP level would predict early recurrence of AF after electrical cardioversion. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Forty-two patients with persistent AF, but without known heart disease, who underwent elective electrical cardioversion were investigated. The CRP level was measured immediately before cardioversion. The study population comprised the 37 patients in whom sinus rhythm was restored. RESULTS: After a follow-up period of 30 days, 16 patients (43%) had recurrence of AF; the other 21 (57%) remained in sinus rhythm. The mean CRP level was significantly higher in patients with AF recurrence (6.3 [3.3] mg/L vs 2.4 [2.1] mg/L, P=.0001). On dividing patients according to whether their CRP level was < or =3 mg/L or >3 mg/L, it was observed that only 33% of those in sinus rhythm had a level >3 mg/L compared with 81% of those with AF recurrence (P=.004). Patients with a CRP level >3 mg/L had a significant increase in the 1-month risk of AF recurrence (RR=3.7; 95% CI, 1.3-10.8). There was no association between CRP level and left atrial diameter (P =.50) or AF duration (P=.458). CONCLUSIONS: A high CRP level is associated with early recurrence of AF after electrical cardioversion, suggesting that inflammation could play a role in atrial remodeling.

Screening pulmonary arteriovenous malformations in a large cohort of Spanish patients with hemorrhagic hereditary telangiectasia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Because of the serious nature of potential complications, screening for pulmonary arteriovenous malformations is required in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of contrast echocardiography and compare the performance of two contrast agents: agitated saline and Gelofusine. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred and five patients screened for PAVMs using TTCE and computed tomography (CT) performed with an interval of less than 180days. Contrast echocardiography studies were graded on a 4-point semiquantitative scale based on the amount of microbubbles seen in left heart chambers. RESULTS: Positive TTCE findings were seen in 137 (66.8%) patients, whereas CT confirmed PAVMs in 59 (43.1%). Two of 67 grade 1 patients; 18 of 42 grade 2; 17 of 22 grade 3 and all grade 4 had PAVMs on CT. Embolotherapy was feasible in 38.9% patients in grade 2 and 82.3% and 95.2% in grades 3-4. No patients in grade 1 were embolized. The mean cardiac cycle in which bubbles were first seen in the left heart in patients without and with PAVMs on CT was 6.1 and 3.9 (p<0.0001). Compared to saline, Gelofusine produced an overall increase in grade. CONCLUSIONS: No grade 1 patients had treatable PAVMs. There is a need for improvement in the selection of patients for CT in grade 2, where less than half have PAVMs on CT. The cardiac cycle may help to differentiate between patients with and without PAVMs. Gelofusine was not better than saline for PAVM screening.

Infective endocarditis in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A multicenter, prospective, cohort study.

Infective endocarditis (IE) complicating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a poorly known entity. Although current guidelines do not recommend IE antibiotic prophylaxis (IEAP) in HCM, controversy remains.This study sought to describe the clinical course of a large series of IE HCM and to compare IE in HCM patients with IE patients with and without an indication for IEAP.Data from the GAMES IE registry involving 27 Spanish hospitals were analyzed. From January 2008 to December 2013, 2000 consecutive IE patients were prospectively included in the registry. Eleven IE HCM additional cases from before 2008 were also studied. Clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic characteristics were analyzed in IE HCM patients (n = 34) and in IE HCM reported in literature (n = 84). Patients with nondevice IE (n = 1807) were classified into 3 groups: group 1, HCM with native-valve IE (n = 26); group 2, patients with IEAP indication (n = 696); group 3, patients with no IEAP indication (n = 1085). IE episode and 1-year follow-up data were gathered.One-year mortality in IE HCM was 42% in our study and 22% in the literature. IE was more frequent, although not exclusive, in obstructive HCM (59% and 74%, respectively). Group 1 exhibited more IE predisposing factors than groups 2 and 3 (62% vs 40% vs 50%, P < 0.01), and more previous dental procedures (23% vs 6% vs 8%, P < 0.01). Furthermore, Group 1 experienced a higher incidence of Streptococcus infections than Group 2 (39% vs 22%, P < 0.01) and similar to Group 3 (39% vs 30%, P = 0.34). Overall mortality was similar among groups (42% vs 36% vs 35%, P = 0.64).IE occurs in HCM patients with and without obstruction. Mortality of IE HCM is high but similar to patients with and without IEAP indication. Predisposing factors, previous dental procedures, and streptococcal infection are higher in IE HCM, suggesting that HCM patients could benefit from IEAP.

[Follow-up findings one year after discharge from a chest pain unit]. / Seguimineto a un año de los pacientes dados de alta de una unidad de dolor torácico.

One hundred and twenty five consecutive patients discharged from a chest pain unit (group I, 32 with the diagnosis of probable ischemic heart disease and group II, 93 with the diagnosis of non-vascular pain) were prospectively followed up for one year. In group I (treadmill exercise testing were positive at a high workload in 15, negative in 9 and inconclusive in 4), one patient had non-ST elevation acute coronary event 15 days after discharge and two patients had unstable angina at 3 and 5 months. There were no events among the patients who had positive or inconclusive exercise testing. In group II (treadmill exercise testing were negative in 85 and inconclusive in 5) one patient had non-ST elevation acute coronary event at 7 months and one had unstable angina at 11 months. In conclusion, patients discharged from a chest pain unit, including those patients with positive treadmill exercise at a high workload, have a favorable mid-term outcome.

[Influence of hospital type on treatment and prognosis in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome]. / Impacto del tipo de hospital en el tratamiento y evolución de los pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del ST.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Clinical practice guidelines on non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) do not take either hospital infrastructure or the availability of a catheterization laboratory into account. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of hospital type, either with or without a catheterization laboratory, on treatment and medium-term prognosis in patients with NSTEACS. METHODS: The GYSCA multicenter study (covering 15 hospitals) investigated the implementation of clinical practice guidelines in patients with NSTEACS at six hospitals with catheterization laboratories (i.e. tertiary-care hospitals; THs) and nine without (i.e. secondary-care hospitals; SHs). Patients were assessed clinically at hospital discharge and after 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: In total, 1133 consecutive patients were recruited: 599 (52.9%) in THs and 534 (47.1%) in SHs. The use of specific class-I interventions (i.e. aspirin, clopidogrel, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins) was more common in THs (P< .01) and more patients in THs underwent revascularization while in hospital (43% vs. 30%; P< .01). The number of SH patients who were readmitted for NSTEACS at 1 year was 5-fold greater than the number of TH patients (12.8% vs. 2.3%; P< .01), and hospital type was a predictor of an adverse event. CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted for NSTEACS to a hospital without a catheterization laboratory were managed less invasively and their drug treatment was less likely to have been modified to match guideline recommendations. In addition to other well-known prognostic factors, hospital type can also have an influence on patient outcomes.

Impacto del tipo de hospital en el tratamiento y evolución de los pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del ST / Influence of hospital type on treatment and prognosis in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

Introducción y objetivos. Las guías de práctica clínica del síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación del ST (SCASEST) no valoran la infraestructura hospitalaria y la facilidad de acceso a la sala de hemodinámica. Este estudio analiza la influencia del tipo de hospital, con o sin sala de hemodinámica, en la forma de tratamiento de pacientes con SCASEST y su posible impacto en el pronóstico a medio plazo. Métodos. El GYSCA es un registro multicéntrico (15 hospitales) que analiza la aplicación de las guías en pacientes con SCASEST: 6 con sala de hemodinámica (hospitales centrales) y 9 sin hemodinámica (hospitales comarcales). Se realizó seguimiento clínico al alta y a los 3 y a los 12 meses. Resultados. Se reclutó a 1.133 pacientes consecutivos; 599 (52,9%) en hospitales centrales y 534 (47,1%) en hospitales comarcales. El uso de intervenciones de clase I fue mayor en los centrales (aspirina, clopidogrel, bloqueadores beta, IECA y estatinas; p < 0,01) y se revascularizó a más pacientes durante la hospitalización (el 43 frente al 30%; p < 0,01). El número de pacientes de hospitales comarcales que reingresaron por SCASEST al año fue 5 veces mayor que en los centrales (el 12,8 frente al 2,3%; p < 0,01), y el tipo de hospital fue uno de los predictores de eventos. Conclusiones. Los pacientes que ingresan por SCASEST en hospitales que no disponen de sala de hemodinámica son tratados de forma menos invasiva y con un tratamiento farmacológico menos ajustado a lo recomendado en las guías. Junto con los conocidos factores predictivos del pronóstico, el tipo de hospital puede tener un impacto adicional en la evolución (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Clinical practice guidelines on non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) do not take either hospital infrastructure or the availability of a catheterization laboratory into account. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of hospital type, either with or without a catheterization laboratory, on treatment and medium-term prognosis in patients with NSTEACS. Methods. The GYSCA multicenter study (covering 15 hospitals) investigated the implementation of clinical practice guidelines in patients with NSTEACS at six hospitals with catheterization laboratories (i.e. tertiary-care hospitals; THs) and nine without (i.e. secondary-care hospitals; SHs). Patients were assessed clinically at hospital discharge and after 3 and 12 months. Results. In total, 1133 consecutive patients were recruited: 599 (52.9%) in THs and 534 (47.1%) in SHs. The use of specific class-I interventions (i.e. aspirin, clopidogrel, beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and statins) was more common in THs (P < .01) and more patients in THs underwent revascularization while in hospital (43% vs. 30%; P < .01). The number of SH patients who were readmitted for NSTEACS at 1 year was 5-fold greater than the number of TH patients (12.8% vs. 2.3%; P < .01), and hospital type was a predictor of an adverse event. Conclusions. Patients admitted for NSTEACS to a hospital without a catheterization laboratory were managed less invasively and their drug treatment was less likely to have been modified to match guideline recommendations. In addition to other well-known prognostic factors, hospital type can also have an influence on patient outcomes (AU)

Relación entre concentraciones de proteína C reactiva y recurrencia precoz de la fibrilación auricular tras cardioversión eléctrica / Relationship between C-reactive protein level and early recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion

Introducción y objetivos. El remodelado auricular es la causa principal de recurrencia de la fibrilación auricular (FA) tras la cardioversión. Se han observado concentraciones elevadas de proteína C reactiva (PCR) en pacientes con FA, lo que sugiere que la inflamación puede participar en la patogenia de esta arritmia. Nosotros planteamos que las concentraciones elevadas de PCR podrían estar asociadas con la recurrencia de la FA tras cardioversión eléctrica. Pacientes y método. Se analizó a 42 pacientes con FA persistente remitidos para cardioversión eléctrica electiva, sin cardiopatía ni proceso intercurrente conocido. La PCR se obtuvo inmediatamente antes de la cardioversión. Se restauró ritmo sinusal (RS) en 37 pacientes. Resultados. A los 30 días, 16 pacientes estaban de nuevo en FA (43%) y los restantes 21 permanecían en RS (57%). La PCR media fue significativamente mayor en los pacientes con recurrencia de la FA (6,3 ± 3,3 frente a 2,4 ± 2,1 mg/l; p = 0,0001). Al dividir a los pacientes de acuerdo con los valores de PCR ≤ 3 y > 3 mg/l, sólo el 33% de los que estaban en RS tenía valores > 3 mg/l, frente al 81% de los pacientes con recurrencia de la FA (p = 0,004). Los individuos con PCR > 3 mg/l tenían más riesgo de estar en FA al mes (riesgo relativo [RR] = 3,7; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,3-10,8). La PCR no se asoció con el tamaño de aurícula izquierda (p = 0,50) ni con el tiempo de evolución de la FA (p = 0,458). Conclusiones. Los valores elevados de PCR están asociados con la recurrencia precoz de la FA tras cardioversión eléctrica, lo que sugiere que la inflamación podría participar en el remodelado auricular

Introduction and objectives. Atrial remodeling is responsible for the early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardioversion. Recently, it has been shown that the C-reactive protein (CRP) level is elevated in patients with AF, indicating that inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis of this arrhythmia. We postulated that a high CRP level would predict early recurrence of AF after electrical cardioversion. Patients and method. Forty-two patients with persistent AF, but without known heart disease, who underwent elective electrical cardioversion were investigated. The CRP level was measured immediately before cardioversion. The study population comprised the 37 patients in whom sinus rhythm was restored. Results. After a follow-up period of 30 days, 16 patients (43%) had recurrence of AF; the other 21 (57%) remained in sinus rhythm. The mean CRP level was significantly higher in patients with AF recurrence (6.3 [3.3] mg/L vs 2.4 [2.1] mg/L, P=.0001). On dividing patients according to whether their CRP level was ≤3 mg/L or >3 mg/L, it was observed that only 33% of those in sinus rhythm had a level >3 mg/L compared with 81% of those with AF recurrence (P=.004). Patients with a CRP level >3 mg/L had a significant increase in the 1-month risk of AF recurrence (RR=3.7; 95% CI, 1.3-10.8). There was no association between CRP level and left atrial diameter (P =.50) or AF duration (P=.458). Conclusions. A high CRP level is associated with early recurrence of AF after electrical cardioversion, suggesting that inflammation could play a role in atrial remodeling

Seguimiento a un año de los pacientes dados de alta de una unidad de dolor torácico / Follow-up findings one year after discharge from a chest pain unit

Un total de 125 pacientes dados de alta de nuestra unidad de dolor torácico (grupo I: 32 con diagnóstico de cardiopatía isquémica probable y grupo II: 93 con dolor inespecífico, razonablemente no vascular) fueron seguidos durante 12 meses. En el grupo I (ergometría positiva a alta carga en 15, negativa en 9 y no concluyente en 4), un paciente presentó infarto agudo sin elevación del segmento ST a los 15 días y 2 pacientes angina inestable a los 3 y 5 meses. No hubo eventos entre los pacientes con ergometría positiva o no concluyente. En el grupo II (ergometría negativa en 85, no concluyente en 5), un paciente presentó infarto agudo sin elevación del segmento ST a los 9 meses y otro reingresó por angina inestable a los 12 meses. Concluimos que los pacientes dados de alta de una unidad de dolor torácico, incluidos aquellos con ergometría positiva de bajo riesgo, tienen un favorable pronóstico a medio plazo (AU)