A comparative study of the behaviour of left-sided infective endocarditis (left-sided IE) due to
Streptococcus agalactiae
(GBS) with left-sided IE caused by
Staphylococcus aureus
(SA). A prospective, ...multicentre cohort study in eight public hospitals in Spain, from January 1984 to December 2015; comparative analysis and factors associated with mortality. In total, there were 1754 episodes of left-sided IE; 41 (2.3%) caused by GBS vs. 344 (19.6%) due to SA, definitive IE 39 vs. 324 cases, males, 25 vs. 213, respectively. There were no differences in age or comorbidity, and healthcare-associated acquirement was 10% vs. 43%,
p
0.001. Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) was performed in 95% vs. 96.8% and a transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) in 61% vs. 56%. Vegetations were detected in 80% and measured > 1 cm in a similar proportion. It affected native valves in 85.4% vs. 82.6% and late prosthetic valve in 14.6% vs. 9.6%. The course was acute in both groups. There were more skin manifestations in SA left-sided IE, 7.3% vs. 32%,
p
0.001. Both groups had similar complications, but in SA, there was more renal failure, 24% vs. 45%,
p
0.010. Surgical risk and operated patients were similar. Mortality was proportionally higher in the SA group, without significance 29% vs. 43% (150),
p
0.09. Heart failure, septic shock and neurological deterioration conditioned mortality: HR 1.96, 1.69 and 1.37 (CI 95% 1.40–2.73; 1.19–2.39 and 0.99–1.88 respectively) and to a lesser degree SA as aetiology agent and age. Left-sided IE caused by GBS is similar in severity to left-sided IE caused by SA.
To analyze the influence of early valve operation on mortality in patients with left-sided infective endocarditis (IE).
A multicenter cohort study was carried out between 1990 and 2010. Data from ...consecutive patients with definite IE and possible left-sided IE were collected. Propensity score matching and adjustment for survivor bias were used to control for confounders. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality.
A total of 1019 patients with a mean age of 61 years (interquartile range, 47-71 years) were included. Early surgical treatment was performed in 417 episodes (40.9%). By propensity score, we matched 316 episodes: 158 who underwent early surgical treatment and 158 who did not (medical treatment group). In-hospital mortality and late mortality were lower in the surgically treated group (26.6% vs 41.8%; absolute risk reduction ARR, -15.2%; P=.004 and 29.7% vs 46.2%; ARR, -16.5%; P=.002, respectively). Operation was independently associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22-0.79; P=.007). Operation was associated with reduced mortality in patients with paravalvular complications (ARR, -40.5%), severe heart failure (ARR, -32%), and native valve endocarditis (ARR, -17.8%).
This study supports the benefit of surgical treatment in patients with left-sided IE carried out during the initial phase of hospitalization, especially in patients with moderate or severe heart failure and paravalvular extension of infection.
It is well-known the relationship between Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) bacteremia and colon cancer, liver cirrhosis and others neoplasms. However, a study protocol to rule out these underlying ...diseases has not been carried out yet. Our objective was to describe S. bovis bacteremia and associated diseases.
Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. S. bovis bacteremias episodes between 2001 and 2009 were included. Mean variables: colon neoplasm, non-colonic neoplasm or liver cirrhosis. Epidemiologist aspects, bacteremia related variables, personal and familiar history and clinical and analytical data were collected.
Ninety three patients were included. One out of four individuals had a colon neoplasm. Fifty seven per cent were concomitant cases with bacteremia and six cases were diagnosed after bacteremia (time bacteremia-diagnosis of neoplasm months, median Q1-Q3, 2.6 1-11). Fourteen (15%) patients were diagnosed with any non-colonic neoplasm (mainly biliary and pancreatic 6 cases or esophagus-gastric 3 cases). There were three patients (21%) with concomitant bacteremia non-colonic neoplasm and two after it (1.2 and 10.4 months). Twenty-one (23%) patients suffered from liver cirrhosis.
Patients with S. bovis bacteremia must undergo a study designed to rule out underlying diseases. We suggest that this study should include: a colonic evaluation, ideally by colonoscopy, a liver evaluation by serum chemistry, an abdominal ultrasound scan or a method of liver fibrosis assessment, a gastroscopy and an evaluation of biliary and pancreatic areas by magnetic resonance imaging.
The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of neurological complications in patients with infective endocarditis, the risk factors for their development, their influence on the clinical ...outcome, and the impact of cardiac surgery.
This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on a multicenter cohort of 1345 consecutive episodes of left-sided infective endocarditis from 8 centers in Spain. Cox regression models were developed to analyze variables predictive of neurological complications and associated mortality. Three hundred forty patients (25%) experienced such complications: 192 patients (14%) had ischemic events, 86 (6%) had encephalopathy/meningitis, 60 (4%) had hemorrhages, and 2 (1%) had brain abscesses. Independent risk factors associated with all neurological complications were vegetation size ≥3 cm (hazard ratio HR 1.91), Staphylococcus aureus as a cause (HR 2.47), mitral valve involvement (HR 1.29), and anticoagulant therapy (HR 1.31). This last variable was particularly related to a greater incidence of hemorrhagic events (HR 2.71). Overall mortality was 30%, and neurological complications had a negative impact on outcome (45% of deaths versus 24% in patients without these complications; P<0.01), although only moderate to severe ischemic stroke (HR 1.63) and brain hemorrhage (HR 1.73) were significantly associated with a poorer prognosis. Antimicrobial treatment reduced (by 33% to 75%) the risk of neurological complications. In patients with hemorrhage, mortality was higher when surgery was performed within 4 weeks of the hemorrhagic event (75% versus 40% in later surgery).
Moderate to severe ischemic stroke and brain hemorrhage were found to have a significant negative impact on the outcome of infective endocarditis. Early appropriate antimicrobial treatment is critical, and transitory discontinuation of anticoagulant therapy should be considered.