Dismal prognosis of patients with operative indication without surgical intervention in active left-sided infective endocarditis

Outcomes of conservative treatment for thoracic vascular graft infections

OBJECTIVES

Thoracic vascular graft infections are devastating complications after aortic surgery, entailing high mortality. The gold standard treatment combines excisional surgery and antimicrobial therapy, but patients deemed inoperable might benefit from a conservative approach. Outcomes of patients treated only with antimicrobial agents without reoperative surgery are scanty. We aim to describe patients' characteristics and outcomes using an antibiotic-only strategy without thorough debridement.

METHODS

Retrospectively collected data from a prospective cohort in a tertiary centre. Descriptive analysis for baseline characteristics and Kaplan-Meier estimates for survival were performed.

RESULTS

From November 2012 to December 2022, 66 patients were identified with aortic root, ascending aortic and aortic arch graft infections. Of these, 44 received an antibiotic-only strategy or in combination with selective debridement after achieving multidisciplinary consensus. Median follow-up was 4.8 years [interquartile range (IQR) 1.7-6.1], and cumulative survival was 82.9% (CI 95%, 69.7-96.1). Streptococcus spp were the most common isolated microorganisms.

CONCLUSIONS

In selected cases, a conservative approach with antibiotics only or in combination with selective debridement showed acceptable results at follow-up, suggesting a valuable therapy option for this cohort of patients.

Beyond the Timeline: 1-Year Mortality Trends in Early Versus Late Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis

Among 302 episodes of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), 1-year mortality was 31%. There was no evidence indicating that early-onset PVE within 6 months from valve surgery led to a worse outcome compared to late-onset PVE (21% vs 32%, P = .126), despite similar redo valve surgeries across both categories.

Antimicrobial suppressive therapy in prosthetic valve endocarditis rejected from surgery despite indication

BACKGROUND

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) incidence is rising in older patients, often rejected for surgery, leading them to a poor prognosis. Optimal antibiotic management is unknown for these patients. We compared the efficacy and safety of suppressive (SAT) versus conventional antimicrobial therapy (CAT) in this setting.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective, multicentric, cohort study in southwest France including patients with PVE rejected from surgery despite indication, and surviving the initial 6 weeks of intravenous therapy. Beyond this period, patients could or not receive SAT, according to endocarditis team decision. Primary outcome was a composite endpoint of one-year all-cause mortality and PVE-related hospitalization. Secondary outcome was the incidence and nature of SAT-related adverse events.

RESULTS

Between 2012 and 2022, 88 patients were included in the study, 42 receiving SAT and 46 CAT. Mean age was 69.4 ± 16.4 years and patients were highly comorbid (mean Charlson Comorbidity Index 5.6 ± 2.7). Main organisms included Streptococcus spp. (26/88, 29.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (25/88, 28.4%). The primary composite outcome occurred in 7/42 (16.7%) patients in the SAT group, and 16/46 (34.8%) in the CAT group. Using a Cox model, SAT was significantly and independently associated with a lower incidence of one-year primary outcome (Hazard ratio 0.23, 95% CI 0.08-0.67, P = 0.007). Adverse effects in the SAT group were reported for 6/42 patients (14.3%). These effects were limited, causing only one treatment discontinuation.

CONCLUSION

In patients with PVE rejected from surgery despite indication, SAT may be safe and associated with better outcomes than CAT.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Cirrhosis Who Develop Infective Endocarditis

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is an increasingly common infection that results in significant morbidity and mortality. An important but under-analyzed subpopulation of patients with IE are those with concomitant cirrhosis. This study compared the characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without cirrhosis who were hospitalized with IE. Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study in adult patients with IE admitted at a single center from 2010 to 2020, comparing outcomes between those with and without cirrhosis at the time of admission. Results: A total of 22 patients with a history of cirrhosis and 356 patients without a history of cirrhosis were included. Over a quarter (27.3%) of those with cirrhosis experienced a decompensation event within two years of their admission for IE. Clinical features, microbiology, and direct complications from IE were largely similar between groups. There was no significant difference in IE-related mortality rates between groups, although, in an overall survival analysis, the group with cirrhosis did have a higher risk of all-cause mortality at 2 years (HR = 2.85; p = 0.012). Conclusions: This study highlights that IE in patients with cirrhosis may contribute to or trigger decompensation events. Further research is warranted to better understand morbidity outcomes in patients with cirrhosis who develop IE.

Perioperative care in infective endocarditis

Patients undergoing surgery for acute infective endocarditis are among those with the highest risk. Their preoperative condition has significant impact on outcomes. There are specific issues related with the preoperative situation, intraoperative findings, and postoperative management. In this narrative review, focus is placed on the most critical aspects in the perioperative period including the management and weaning from mechanical ventilation, the management of vasoplegia, the management of the chest open, antithrombotic therapy, transfusion, coagulopathy, management of atrial fibrillation, the duration of antibiotic therapy, and pacemaker implantation.