One Case about the Diagnosis and Treatment of Right-Sided Infective Endocarditis without Any Inducement

We present a case of Staphylococcus aurous tricuspid valve endocarditis without any risk factors (intravenous drug users, with pacemaker or central venous lines and with congenital heart disease). Transthoracic echocardiography, as first line examination, showed the vegetations on tricuspid valve. In our case, the diagnosis and treatment of right-sided infective endocarditis without any inducement were extremely difficult. Therefore, once a patient comes out with fever, the blood culture remains positive for gram-positive bacterium, and the infectious location still unknown, then the infective endocarditis should be considered. In addition, surgical measure is also an important therapy for right-sided infective endocarditis.

Clinical Features of Right-sided Infective Endocarditis

Objective To discuss the pathogenesis, etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of right sided infective endocarditis (RIE). Methods To investigate retrospectively the clinical data of patients with RIE admitted in our hospital from Jan 1985 to Dec 2000. Results There were 17 cases of RIE (12 male, 5 female, mean age 22 years), among which 7 with congenital heart disease, 1 with pacemaker implantation and 9 with a history of intravenous drug abuse but without underlying heart disease. Fever and multiple pulmonary emboli were the major clinical manifestations. Blood cultures were positive in 8 cases with Staphylococcus aureus as the predominant microorganism. Echocardiography detected right heart vegetations in all cases, with tricuspid valve as the structure most frequently affected. Most patients were successfully treated with antimicrobials. The outcome was favourable, with a mortality of 11.8%. Conclusions The clinical features of RIE are different from that of left sided infective endocarditis (LIE). Echocardiography plays an important role in the diagnosis of RIE.

Community-acquired multidrug-resistant pneumonia,bacteraemia,and infective endocarditis:A case report

BACKGROUND The prevalence of multidrug-resistant(MDR)bacteria has increased globally,with extensive drug-resistant(XDR)bacteria posing a threat to patients.CASE SUMMARY This case report describes a young man admitted for suspected tropical fever infections who experienced rapid deterioration in health.Despite negative results for tropical fever infections,he had neutrophilic leucocytosis,acute kidney injury,and chest imaging findings suggestive of bilateral consolidations.On day two,he was diagnosed with infective endocarditis with possible rheumatic heart disease and MDR methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia,and communityacquired pneumonia.Despite treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics,he did not respond and succumbed to death on day five.CONCLUSION This case highlights that clinicians/public should be aware of MDR communityacquired pneumonia,bacteraemia,and endocarditis which ultimately culminate in high rates of morbidity and mortality.Early identification of pathogenic strain and prompt antibiotic treatment are a mainstay for the management and prevention of early fatalities.Simultaneously,route cause analysis of communityacquired MDR/XDR pathogens is a global need.

Granulicatella adiacens: A Rare Cause of Infective Endocarditis: A Case Report

Granulicatella adiacens (G. adiacens), formerly classified as a nutritionally variant streptococci (NVS), is a commensal organism in the mouth. It is known to be a rare cause of infective endocarditis (IE). This case report presents a case of IE caused by G. adiacens in a 63-year-old man with mitral valve prolapse (MVP), severe mitral regurgitation (MR), and dual vessel disease (DVD). G. adiacens was isolated from two of three blood cultures, and the organism was sensitive to penicillin, vancomycin, cefotaxime, and gentamicin. He was successfully treated with a combination of ceftriaxone and gentamicin. Prompt identification of the organism and determination of antibiotic sensitivity pattern led to successful treatment. This case report showcases the challenges in diagnosis, and treatment, giving insight to healthcare providers on a rare entity.

Infective Endocarditis in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: Specificities and Therapeutic Management

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a frequent complication in chronic hemodialysis patients (CHD). The repeated placement and manipulation of central venous catheters, underlying valvulopathies, and immunosuppression are the main predisposing factors for these patients to develop IE. We aimed to highlight the clinical and microbiological specificities of IE in CHD patients, detail the therapeutic management in these patients and identify the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. We included 28 CHD patients in whom the diagnosis of IE was established according to modified Duke criteria. The mean age was 47 ± 17 years. Among them, 57% were hypertensive and 39% were diabetic. The average duration of hemodialysis was 3.5 ± 7 years. The vascular access was a tunnelled jugular catheter, arteriovenous fistula, and temporary catheter in 54%, 28%, and 18% of patients, respectively. Half of the patients presented with heart failure at admission. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus is the most commonly implicated pathogen. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed vegetation in all patients. In 60% of cases, the lesion is located on the mitral valve, and in 35% it is on the tricuspid valve. Patients initially received empirical antibiotic therapy, which was adjusted according to bacteriological results. Valve surgery was indicated in 12 patients, with aortic valve replacement being the most performed procedure followed by tricuspid annuloplasty. The in-hospital mortality rate was 32%. Factors associated with mortality were severe mitral insufficiency (p = 0.036), heart failure (p = 0.043), and the presence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus in blood cultures (p = 0.047). IE is a complication with high morbidity and mortality. Its increasing incidence, specificities in chronic CHD patients, and the complexity of its management require a rigorous preventive strategy. A multidisciplinary collaboration between nephrologists, infectious disease specialists, cardiologists, and surgeons is crucial to optimize therapeutic management.

Valve repair after infective endocarditis secondary to perforation caused by Streptococcus gordonii:A case report

BACKGROUND We report a case of infective endocarditis(IE)in a patient with congenital heart valve lesions accompanied by IE,which was diagnosed based on blood culture analysis that revealed the presence of a gram-negative bacterium,Streptococcus gordonii.CASE SUMMARY The patient had a history of precordial valve disease diagnosed by cardiac ultrasound,as well as a 4-mo history of fever.He was subjected to comprehensive anti-infection and anti-heart failure treatment in the internal medicine department.Further examination revealed sudden dislodgement from and perforation through the aortic valve by the superfluous organisms,as well as occurrence of bacterial emboli dislodgement,which caused bacteremia and infectious shock.He recovered and was discharged from the hospital after surgical and postoperative anti-infection treatments.CONCLUSION We review the treatment process and highlight inspirations and reflections from this case;suggest possible future changes in treatment modalities.

Infective endocarditis and thoracic aortic disease: A review on forgotten psychological aspects

AIM To summarize the current evidence on psychological issues in thoracic aortic disease(TAD) and infective endocarditis(IE) setting. METHODS We performed a narrative review about psychological issues in adults with IE and TAD. Through the electronic databases, Pub Med and Psyc INFO, we searched full manuscripts in English and published until September 1, 2014. RESULTS We found sixteen studies exploring psychological issues in patients with IE(six studies) and in TAD(ten papers). Psychological issues assessed were quality of life, depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder. Quality of life was explored in IE(four papers) and in TAD(eight papers). Depression and anxiety were analyzed in TAD only(five papers). Post-traumatic stress disorder was assessed in IE(one study). Quality of life was found impaired in three of four studies about IE and in three of eight studies about TAD. Posttraumatic stress disorder was present in 11% and was associated with lower levels of quality of life in IE patients. In TAD patients, anxiety and depression levels after different invasive interventions did not differ. CONCLUSION Sixteen studies report about psychological issues in IE and TAD. Most of them explore quality of life and to a less extent anxiety and depression.

Acquired aortocameral fistula occurring late after infective endocarditis: An emblematic case and review of 38 reported cases

AIM To delineate the features and current therapeutic option of congenital and acquired aortocameral fistulas(ACF) secondary to iatrogenic or infectious disorders.METHODS From a Pub Med search using the term "aortocameral fistula", 30 suitable papers for the current review were retrieved. Reviews, case series and case reports published in English were considered. Abstracts and reports from scientific meetings were not included. A total of 38 reviewed subjects were collected and analyzed. In addition, another case- an adult male who presented with ACF between commissures of the right and noncoronary sinuses and right atrium as a late complication of Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis of the AV- is added, the world literature is briefly reviewed.RESULTS A total of thirty-eight subjects producing 39 fistulas were reviewed, analyzed and stratified into either congenital(47%) or acquired(53%) according to their etiology. Of all subjects, 11% were asymptomatic and 89% were symptomatic with dyspnea(21 ×) as the most common presentation. Diagnosis was established by a multidiagnostic approach in 23(60%), single method in 14(37%)(echocardiography in 12 and catheterization in 2), and at autopsy in 2(3%) of the subjects. Treatment options included percutaneous transcatheter closure in 12(30%) with the deployment of the Amplatzer duct or septal occluder and Gianturco coil and surgical correction in 24(63%). CONCLUSION Acquired ACF is an infrequent entity which may occur late after an episode of endocarditis of the native AV. The management of ACF is generally by surgical correction but non-surgical device intervention has recently been introduced as a safe alternative.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Infective Endocarditis in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Objective To analyze the clinical features of hemodialysis patients complicated by infective endo carditis. Methods The clinical features of six such patients admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital during the year 1990 to 2009 were analyzed. All of them were diagnosed based on Chinese Children Diagnostic Criteria for Infective Endocarditis. Results The average age of the six patients was 52.3±19.3 years old. Four were males. Vascular accesses at the onset of infective endocarditis were as follows： permanent catheters in three, temporary catheters in two, and arteriovenous fistula in one. Three were fbund with mitral valve involvement, two with aor tic valve involvement, and one with both. Five vegetations were found by transthoracic echocardiography, and one by transesophageal echocardiography. Four had positive blood culture results. The catheters were all removed. Four of the patients were improved by antibiotics treatment, in which two were still on hemodialy sis in the following 14-24 months and the other two were lost to follow-up. One patient received surgery, but died of heart failure alter further hemodialysis for three months. One was well on maintenance hemodi alvsis for three months after surgery. Conclusions Infective endocarditis should be suspected when hemodialysis patients suffer from long-term fever, for which prompt blood culture and transthoracic echocardiography confirmation could be performed. Transesophageal echocardiography could be considered even when transthoracic echocardiography produces negative findings. With catheters removed, lull course of appropriate sensitive antibiotics and surgery if indicated could improve the outcome of chronic hemodialysis patients complicated by infective cndocarditis.

Global and Regional Trends and Projections of Infective Endocarditis-Associated Disease Burden and Attributable Risk Factors from 1990 to 2030

Objective To forecast the future burden and its attributable risk factors of infective endocarditis(IE).Methods We analyzed the disease burden of IE and its risk factors from 1990 to 2019 using the Global Burden of Disease 2019 database and projected the disease burden from 2020 to 2030 using a Bayesian age-period-cohort model.Results By 2030,the incidence of IE will increase uncontrollably on a global scale,with developed countries having the largest number of cases and developing countries experiencing the fastest growth.The affected population will be predominantly males,but the gender gap will narrow.The elderly in high-income countries will bear the greatest burden,with a gradual shift to middle-income countries.The incidence of IE in countries with middle/high-middle social-demographic indicators(SDI) will surpass that of high SDI countries.In China,the incidence rate and the number of IE will reach 18.07 per 100,000 and 451,596 in 2030,respectively.IEassociated deaths and heart failure will continue to impose a significant burden on society,the burden on women will increase and surpass that on men,and the elderly in high-SDI countries will bear the heaviest burden.High systolic blood pressure has become the primary risk factor for IE-related death.Conclusions This study provides comprehensive analyses of the disease burden and risk factors of IE worldwide over the next decade.The IE-associated incidence will increase in the future and the death and heart failure burden will not be appropriately controlled.Gender,age,regional,and country heterogeneity should be taken seriously to facilitate in making effective strategies for lowering the IE disease burden.

Analysis of sleep characteristics and clinical outcomes of 139 adult patients with infective endocarditis after surgery

BACKGROUND Little is known about the postoperative sleep quality of infective endocarditis patients during hospitalization and after discharge.AIM To investigate the sleep characteristics of infective endocarditis patients and to identify potential risk factors for disturbed sleep quality after surgery.METHODS The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index(PSQI)and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were used to assess patient sleep quality.Logistic regression was used to explore the potential risk factors.RESULTS The study population(n=139)had an average age of 43.40±14.56 years,and 67.6%were men(n=94).Disturbed sleep quality was observed in 86 patients(61.9%)during hospitalization and remained in 46 patients(33.1%)at 6 mo after surgery.However,both PSQI and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores showed significant improvements at 6 mo(P<0.001 and P=0.001,respectively).Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the potential risk factors were age(odds ratio=1.125,95%confidence interval:1.068-1.186)and PSQI assessed during hospitalization(odds ratio=1.759,95%confidence interval:1.436-2.155).The same analysis in patients with PSQI≥8 during hospitalization suggested that not using sleep medication(odds ratio=15.893,95%confidence interval:2.385-105.889)may be another risk factor.CONCLUSION The incidence of disturbed sleep after infective endocarditis surgery is high.However,the situation improves significantly over time.Age and early postoperative high PSQI score are risk factors for disturbed sleep quality at 6 mo after surgery.

Infective endocarditis as a rare cause for acute limb ischemia

Infective endocarditis （IE） occurs at a rate of approximately 1-7/100 000 people per year, and has a high morbidity and mortality despite advances in antibiotic and surgical treatments.

A Case of Comorbidity of Complicated Infective Endocarditis and Severe Pneumonia Due to Legionella Pneumophila

Legionella pneumophila infection can cause Legionnaires’disease,a severe form of pneumonia.Extrapulmonary manifestations of Legionella infections include myocarditis,pericarditis,and endocarditis.We present a rare case of pneumonia caused by Legionella pneumophila with a possible etiologic link to a recently recovered culture-negative infective endocarditis.

Aorto-right atrial fistula: Late complication of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis

Abnormal connections between the ascending aortaand the cardiac chambers are rare, especially in thecontext of right-sided infective endocarditis(IE). Trans-thoracic echocardiography(TTE) with color-flow Dop-pler, transesophageal echocardiography(TEE), or bothmay be required for diagnosis. We present the case ofa woman admitted with right-sided heart failure(HF)symptoms. She had a previous history of tricuspid valveIE 30 years ago. TTE and TEE revealed an aorto-rightatrium fistula located just under the non-coronary cuspinto the right atrium at the level of the previously af-fected tricuspid valve. The Patient refused surgery andwas discharged home on HF medications. She has beenstable for the last 3 years. The peculiarity of this caseis the late symptomatic presentation of the aorto-atrialfistula and the unusual association to tricuspid valve IE.

Gram-negative bacteria causing infective endocarditis: Rare cardiac complication after liver transplantation

Bacterial endocarditis is a rare complication amongst solid organ transplant recipients and is often linked to bacteremia. Majority of these recipients do not have underlying valvular heart disease or congenital valvular abnormalities. Staphylococoocusaureus and Enterococcus species are the most commonly isolated organisms. There are very few reports of gram-negative bacteria causing endocarditis in liver transplant recipients. We report a 51-yearold male, a liver transplant recipient, who developed bacterial endocarditis of the mitral valve due to extended spectrum of betalactamase producing strain of Escherichia coli and was managed successfully with antibiotics.

Clinical Spectrum of Infective Endocarditis in a Tertiary Care Centre in Western India: A Prospective Study

OBJECTIVES: We examined the microbiological spectrum, clinical profile, echocardiographic features and in-hospital outcomes of patients with definitive IE. METHODS: A total of 75 consecutive cases of definitive infective endocarditis (IE), admitted between January 2011 and January 2013, were included in the study. This was a prospective study enrolling all the consecutive definitive cases of IE admitted at U. N. Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre (UNMICRC), Ahmedabad, India. Only the patients who met the modified Duke’s definitive criteria for IE were included in the study. We compared enrolled patients clinicoepidemiologic features and outcomes to subjects in the west. RESULTS: The mean age was 27.46 ± 17.11 years with a male preponderance (2.26:1). The rheumatic heart disease (41.3%) was the commonest underlying disease followed by coronary heart disease (34.7%). The blood culture was positive in 40% of episodes with commonest organisms being staphylococci (16%) and streptococci (12%). Complications were cardiovascular in 40 (53.3%) cases (congestive heart failure in 42.7%, atrioventricular block in 6.7%), septic shock in 20 (26.7%), neurological in 23 (30.7%) (cerebrovascular stroke in 20%, central nervous system hemorrhage in 5.3%, encephalopathy in 5.3%) and renal failure in 20 (26.7%) of cases respectively. Only 12 (16%) patients underwent surgery for IE. The total in hospital mortality rate was 22 (29.3%). On multivariate analysis, congestive heart failure, renal failure, neurological abnormalities, age 20 years and septic shock were independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of infective endocarditis is different in Indian population compared to the west and carries a substantial morbidity and mortality. The rheumatic heart disease is still the commonest underlying heart disease in our population. The culture positivity rates and surgery for infective endocarditis are unacceptably low. Early cardiac surgery may help to improve the outcomes of these patients.

Do Cytokines Play a Role in Predicting Some Features and Outcome in Infective Endocarditis?

Objective: This study aimed to measure the serum concentrations of several cytokines in patients with infective endocarditis (IE), and correlate them with the C-reactive protein serum levels, echocardiographic findings and infecting microorganisms. Methods: Forty-five patients with definite IE according to the Duke’s criteria were included in the study. Ten healthy blood donors formed the control group. Serum levels of interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured and compared between the groups, and also with some clinical and laboratory parameters of IE. Results: Patients with IE had significantly higher serum concentrations of the inflammatory mediators than the control patients. Median IL-12 and IL-1β levels were higher in staphylococcal than streptococcal IE. Except for TNF-α, the levels of all the other cytokines correlated with the C-reactive protein concentrations. In multivariate analysis, IL-10 and IL-12 serum levels remained as independent factors associated with the C-reactive protein concentrations. There was a significant correlation between IL-10 concentration and vegetation length. Conclusion: The inflammatory serum cytokines levels were elevated in IE in comparison to healthy controls. C-reactive protein concentrations correlated with cytokines levels. IL-1β and IL-12 serum concentrations were higher in staphylococcal when compared to streptococcal IE. IL-10 levels were associated with vegetation size.

Clinical outcomes in patients with native valve infective endocarditis and diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND There is a lack of data on the clinical outcomes in patients with native valve infective endocarditis(NVIE)and diabetes mellitus(DM).AIM To investigate(1)trends in the prevalence of DM among patients with NVIE;and(2)the impact of DM on NVIE outcomes.METHODS We identified 76385 with NVIE from the 2004 to 2014 National Inpatient Sample,of which 22284(28%)had DM.We assessed trends in DM from 2004 to 2014 using the Cochrane Armitage test.We compared baseline comorbidities,microorganisms,and in-patients procedures between those with vs without DM.Propensity match analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to investigate study outcomes in in-hospital mortality,stroke,acute heart failure,cardiogenic shock,septic shock,and atrioventricular block.RESULTS Crude rates of DM increased from in 22%in 2004 to 30%in 2014.There were significant differences in demographics,comorbidities and NVIE risk factors between the two groups.Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism identified with higher rates in patients with DM(33.1%vs 35.6%;P<0.0001).After propensity matching,in-hospital mortality(11.1%vs 11.9%;P<0.0001),stroke(2.3%vs 3.0%;P<0.0001),acute heart failure(4.6%vs 6.5%;P=0.001),cardiogenic shock(1.5%vs 1.9%;P<0.0001),septic shock(7.2%vs 9.6%;P<0.0001),and atrioventricular block(1.5%vs 2.4%;P<0.0001),were significantly higher in patients with DM.Independent predictors of mortality in NVIE patients with DM include hemodialysis,congestive heart failure,atrial fibrillation,staphylococcus aureus,and older age.CONCLUSION There is an increasing prevalence of DM in NVIE and it is associated with poorer outcomes.Further studies are crucial to identify the clinical,and sociodemographic contributors to this trend and develop strategies to mitigate its attendant risk.

Neocuspidization of the Pulmonary Valve with Autologous Pericardium in the Adult Patient with Ventricular Septal Defect and Infective Endocarditis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the risk factors for developing infective endocarditis (IE). Right-sided IEoccurs in 5%–10% of endocarditis cases, and pulmonary valve (PV) is involved in less than 2% of such patients.Literature data are few, and optimal treatment methods, indications for surgery, and types of operative techniquesare still under debate. We present an adult patient with a rare combination of the ventricular septal defect (VSD)and PV IE who underwent surgical treatment. Neocuspidization with autologous pericardium was utilized for thereconstruction of his PV. We discuss details of this novel surgical technique.

Immediate and Long-Term Results of Transcatheter Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus—Comparison of Two Decades before and after Change in Antibiotic Infective Endocarditis Prophylaxis Guidelines

Objectives:To determine immediate and long-term follow-up of transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)in children.Background:National antibiotic prophylaxis(AP)guideline for infective endocarditis changed after 2009,the effect on practice of PDA closure is unknown.Methods:Observational single center study analyzing follow-up of PDA closure comparing two time periods before(2002–2009)and after(2010–2019)changes in AP guideline.Results:332 patients(68.1%female),median(interquartile range)age 3.0 years(1.5–5.7)and body weight 14.0 kg(10.0–19.3),were enrolled.PDA morphology was conical type A(50.3%),window type B(1.2%),tubular type C(40.1%),complex type D(2.1%),elongated type E(0.9%)and other(5.4%).Minimal PDA diameter and length were 1.9 mm(1.3–2.5)and 8.0 mm(6.2–10.2).PDA was closed using coils(56.3%),Amplatzer Duct Occluders(41.9%)and others(1.8%).Complete closure rate was 61.1%at catheter intervention,72.3%on day 1,87.7%after 6 months and 98.4%at last follow-up on echocardiography.Moderate complication rate(severity level 3)was 4.2%and major complication rate(severity level 4)0.3%,with no catastrophic complications(severity level 5).Annual PDA closure rate declined in the second time period(22.6/year vs.15.5/year,p=0.018),PDA size increased(1.6 mm vs.2.0 mm,p=0.002)and proportion of coils decreased(72.4%vs.37.1%,p<0.001).Conclusions:Interventional closure of PDA is associated with excellent closure rates during follow-up(>98%)and only a small number of complications leading to reintervention or surgery.Change in AP guidelines changed indication for and practice of PDA closure.