Intra-arterial device infections

A sealant with a hemostatic mechanism independent of the blood coagulation function was effective in both elective and emergency surgery for thoracic aorta

OBJECTIVES

Matsudaito is a unique surgical sealant with a powerful hemostatic effect that works independent of a patient's blood coagulation function. Because of its mechanism, this sealant is expected to be particularly useful in patients with a poor blood coagulation function, such as in cases of acute aortic syndrome requiring emergency surgery. We, therefore, evaluated the hemostatic static effect of the sealant in both emergency and elective surgery of the thoracic aorta.

METHODS

We used data obtained from post-marketing surveillance of the sealant. Patients who underwent replacement of the thoracic aorta were enrolled. The hemostatic effect was evaluated as effective if a further hemostatic procedure was not performed after applying the sealant.

RESULTS

From 46 hospitals in Japan, a total of 542 patients (327 elective and 215 emergency cases) were enrolled. Hospital mortality was 4.0% and 11.6% in elective and emergency cases, respectively (p < 0.05). Among the 1039 anastomoses (609 elective and 430 emergency cases), effective hemostasis was confirmed in 436 (71.6%) elective and 259 (60.2%) emergency cases. The data from the clinical trial of the sealant showed a hemostatic rate of 44.4% in elective control cases without the sealant.

CONCLUSION

Given that the hemostatic rate in emergency surgery with the sealant seemed to be better than that in elective surgery without the sealant (determined from the clinical trial), we concluded that the sealant was effective in both emergency and elective thoracic surgery of the aorta.

Inadequate Perioperative Prophylaxis and Postsurgical Complications After Graft Implantation Are Important Risk Factors for Subsequent Vascular Graft Infections: Prospective Results From the Vascular Graft Infection Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Reconstructive vascular surgery has become increasingly common. Vascular graft infections (VGIs) are serious complications, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Previously described risk factors for VGIs include groin incisions, wound infections, and comorbidities. We aimed to identify modifiable predictors for VGIs as targets for infection prevention strategies.

METHODS

Participants of the prospective Vascular Graft Infection Cohort (VASGRA) with surgery between 2013 and 2017 were included. The observation time was calculated from surgery until a confirmed VGI or the last follow-up. Variables were assessed by infection status, using non-parametric tests. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for demographic factors, were applied to assess risk factors for a VGI.

RESULTS

A total of 438 predominantly male (83.1%) patients with a median age of 71 years (interquartile range [IQR] 63 - 76) contributed to 554 person years of follow-up. Thereof, 39 (8.9%) developed a VGI, amounting to an incidence rate of 7.0/100 person years. We found incisional surgical site infections (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 10.09, 95% CI 2.88 - 35.34); hemorrhage (aHR 4.92, 1.28-18.94); renal insufficiency (aHR 4.85, 1.20 - 19.61); inadequate perioperative prophylaxis in patients with an established antibiotic treatment, compared to the additional application of perioperative prophylaxis (aHR 2.87, 95% CI 1.17 - 7.05); and procedure time increases of 1-hour intervals (aHR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08 - 1.39) to be risk factors for VGIs.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified procedure time; inadequate perioperative prophylaxis, especially among patients with an established antibiotic treatment; and several postsurgical infectious and non-infectious complications as modifiable, predictive factors for VGIs and, therefore, as keys to improved surveillance programs and prevention strategies.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT01821664.

Implantable Device-Related Infection

Over half of the nearly two million healthcare-associated infections can be attributed to indwelling medical devices. In this review, we highlight the difficulty in diagnosing implantable device-related infection and how this leads to a likely underestimate of the prevalence. We then provide a length-scale conceptualization of device-related infection pathogenesis. Within this conceptualization we focus specifically on biofilm formation and the role of host immune and coagulation systems. Using this framework, we describe how current and developing preventative strategies target specific processes along the entire length-scale. In light of the significant time horizon for the development and translation of new preventative technologies, we also emphasize the need for parallel development of in situ treatment strategies. Specific examples of both preventative and treatment strategies and how they align with the length-scale conceptualization are described.

Acute suppurative thyroiditis in infected thyroid cyst in an adult patient under hemodialysis

Acute suppurative thyroiditis (AST) accompanied by an abscess is a rare clinical case. Hemodialysis patients are at risk for infections. Sepsis mortality was from 100 to 300 times higher for chronic dialysis patients than that for the general public. Thus, special care should be taken against infection in patients under hemodialysis.

Infections associated with long-term prosthetic devices

The extensive and ever-increasing use of long-term prosthetic devices has improved quality of life and survival for many patients. Prosthetic device-related infection occurs infrequently but is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Management is challenging, often requiring prolonged antimicrobial therapy and surgical intervention. Better understanding of the interaction between microorganisms, devices, and the host should improve the ability to manage device-related infections. This article reviews recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of infections associated with indwelling medical devices, highlighting those associated with prosthetic joints, cerebrospinal fluid shunts, and prosthetic heart valves.

Role of Stents, Drug-Eluting Stents, and Stent-Grafts in Treatment of Infrainguinal Arterial Disease

Infrainguinal peripheral arterial disease is increasingly treatable by endovascular techniques. Bare-metal, drug-eluting, and covered stents (stent-grafts) are increasingly important adjuncts to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of occlusive and aneurysmal disease. Preliminary data suggest bioabsorbable stents may also have a significant clinical impact as well. In this article, we describe the available evidence supporting use of stents in the femoropopliteal and tibial arteries, as well as some of their limitations and complications.

Prosthetic vascular graft infection: A risk factor analysis using a case–control study

OBJECTIVES

Several factors have been anecdotally reported to increase the risk of prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI), a serious complication with high mortality and limb amputation rates. The goal of this study is to confirm purported risk factors using a well-designed statistical model.

METHODS

Patients undergoing vascular graft placement at Mayo Clinic Rochester between January 1, 1982 and December 31, 2002 were retrospectively evaluated, excluding redo cases. PVGI cases had to meet one of the following criteria: perigraft air or fluid >8 weeks postoperatively, positive Gram stain or cultures of graft or perigraft material, intraoperative gross purulence, failure of graft incorporation, or exposed graft. Each case had two controls matched for age, gender and date of surgery. Duration of follow-up for a given control had to be at least equal to the time to infection of the corresponding case. Demographic and other clinical data were collected for each patient.

RESULTS

Fifty-one cases and 102 controls met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 68 years. Staphylococcal species were identified in 45% of the total number of cases, and 60% of cases with a recovered organism. Univariate analysis identified groin incision, wound complication and wound infection as significant risk factors for PVGI (p<0.005 for all three factors). After adjusting for age and surgery date, multivariate analysis confirmed the statistical significance of groin incision and wound infection as risk factors for PVGI.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first published risk factor analysis that includes statistical evaluation in a case-control study of PVGI. Groin incision, wound complication, and wound infection are significantly associated with developing PVGI. These findings will assist in identifying patients at increased risk of developing subsequent infection.

SUMMARY

In order to confirm purported risk factors of prosthetic vascular graft infections (PVGI), a well designed case-control study was conducted at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN. Univariate and multivariate analyses of 51 cases and 102 controls identified three statistically significant risk factors for the development of PVGI: groin incision, wound complication, and wound infection.

Pacemaker-induced Staphylococcus aureus mitral valve acute bacterial endocarditis complicated by persistent bacteremia from a coronary stent: Cure with prolonged/high-dose daptomycin without toxicity

Continuous high-grade Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia suggests acute bacterial endocarditis (ABE), a protected focus, ie, an abscess, or a device-related infection. Daptomycin was curative of S. aureus ABE and coronary stent-related bacteremia. Prolonged high-dose daptomycin therapy (12 mg/kg per day for 41 days) is not associated with any toxicity. Persistent S. aureus bacteremia in ABE should suggest myocardial or perivalvular abscess. If intracardiac abscess can be ruled out and there is no extracardiac source of the S. aureus bacteremia, then a device-related infection should be considered.