Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Infective Endocarditis Incidence Following Invasive Dental Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Importance

The association between antibiotic prophylaxis and infective endocarditis after invasive dental procedures is still unclear. Indications for antibiotic prophylaxis were restricted by guidelines beginning in 2007.

Objective

To systematically review and analyze existing evidence on the association between antibiotic prophylaxis and infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures.

Data Sources

PubMed, Cochrane-CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, Proquest, Embase, Dentistry and Oral Sciences Source, and ClinicalTrials.gov were systematically searched from inception to May 2023.

Study Selection

Studies on the association between antibiotic prophylaxis and infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures or time-trend analyses of infective endocarditis incidence before and after current antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Study quality was evaluated using structured tools. Data were extracted by independent observers. A pooled relative risk (RR) of developing infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures in individuals who were receiving antibiotic prophylaxis vs those who were not was computed by random-effects meta-analysis.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The outcome of interest was the incidence of infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures in relation to antibiotic prophylaxis.

Results

Of 11 217 records identified, 30 were included (1 152 345 infective endocarditis cases). Of them, 8 (including 12 substudies) were either case-control/crossover or cohort studies or self-controlled case series, while 22 were time-trend studies; all were of good quality. Eight of the 12 substudies with case-control/crossover, cohort, or self-controlled case series designs performed a formal statistical analysis; 5 supported a protective role of antibiotic prophylaxis, especially among individuals at high risk, while 3 did not. By meta-analysis, antibiotic prophylaxis was associated with a significantly lower risk of infective endocarditis after invasive dental procedures in individuals at high risk (pooled RR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.29-0.57; P for heterogeneity = .51; I2, 0%). Nineteen of the 22 time-trend studies performed a formal pre-post statistical analysis; 9 found no significant changes in infective endocarditis incidence, 7 demonstrated a significant increase for the overall population or subpopulations (individuals at high and moderate risk, streptococcus-infective endocarditis, and viridans group streptococci-infective endocarditis), whereas 3 found a significant decrease for the overall population and among oral streptococcus-infective endocarditis.

Conclusions and Relevance

While results from time-trend studies were inconsistent, data from case-control/crossover, cohort, and self-controlled case series studies showed that use of antibiotic prophylaxis is associated with reduced risk of infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures in individuals at high risk, while no association was proven for those at low/unknown risk, thereby supporting current American Heart Association and European Society of Cardiology recommendations. Currently, there is insufficient data to support any benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis in individuals at moderate risk.

Bacteraemia with gram-positive bacteria-when and how do I need to look for endocarditis?

BACKGROUND

Patients with bacteraemia caused by gram-positive bacteria are at risk for infective endocarditis (IE). Because IE needs long antibiotic treatment and sometimes heart valve surgery, it is very important to identify patients with IE.

OBJECTIVES

In this narrative review we present and discuss how to determine which investigations to detect IE that are needed in individual patients with gram-positive bacteraemia.

SOURCES

Published original studies and previous reviews in English, within the relevant field are used.

CONTENT

First, the different qualities of the bacteraemia in relation to IE risk are discussed. The risk for IE in bacteraemia is related to the species of the bacterium but also to monomicrobial bacteraemia and the number of positive cultures. Second, patient-related factors for IE risk in bacteraemia are presented. Next, the risk stratification systems to determine the risk for IE in gram-positive bacteraemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, viridans streptococci, and Enterococcus faecalis are presented and their use is discussed. In the last part of the review, an account for the different modalities of IE-investigations is given. The main focus is on echocardiography, which is the cornerstone of IE-investigations. Furthermore, 18F-fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and cardiac computed tomography are presented and their use is also discussed. A brief account for investigations used to identify embolic phenomena in IE is also given. Finally, we present a flowchart suggesting which investigations to perform in relation to IE in patients with gram-positive bacteraemia.

IMPLICATIONS

For the individual patient as well as the healthcare system, it is important both to diagnose IE and to decide when to stop looking for IE. This review might be helpful in finding that balance.

Infective endocarditis risk in patients with bicuspid aortic valve: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Antibiotic prophylaxis in bicuspid aortic valve patients is currently a matter of debate. Although it is no longer recommended by international guidelines, some studies indicate a high risk of infective endocarditis. We aim to evaluate the risk of native valve infective endocarditis in bicuspid aortic valve patients and compare to individuals with tricuspid aortic valve.

Methods

Study search of longitudinal studies regarding infective endocarditis incidence in bicuspid aortic valve patients (compared with tricuspid aortic valve/overall population) was conducted through OVID in the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE; from inception until October 2020. The outcomes of interest were the incidence rate and relative risk of infective endocarditis. The relative risk and incidence rate (number of cases for each 10 000 persons-year) with their 95 % confidence intervals (95 %CI) were estimated using a random effects model meta-analysis. The study protocol was registered at PROSPERO CRD42020218639.

Results

Eight cohort studies were selected, with a total of 5351 bicuspid aortic valve patients. During follow up, 184 bicuspid aortic valve patients presented infective endocarditis, with an incidence rate of 48.13 per 10,000 patients-year (95 %CI 22.24-74.02), and a 12-fold (RR: 12.03, 95 %CI 5.45-26.54) increased risk compared with general population, after adjusted estimates.

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that bicuspid aortic valve patients have a significant high risk of native valve infective endocarditis. Large prospective high-quality studies are required to estimate more accurately the incidence of infective endocarditis, the relative risk and the potential benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis.

Long-term incidence of infective endocarditis among patients with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at lifelong high risk of infective endocarditis (IE). The risk of IE presumably differs among different CHD, but little knowledge exists on the area.

METHODS

In this observational cohort study, all CHD-patients born in 1977 to 2018 were identified using Danish nationwide registries and followed from the date of birth until first-time IE, emigration, death, or end of study (December 31, 2018). The comparative risk of IE among CHD-patients vs age- and sex-matched controls from the background population was assessed. The risk of IE was stratified according to the type of CHD and factors associated with IE including sex and relevant time-varying coefficients (ie, cyanosis, cardiac prostheses, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and cardiac implantable electronic devices) were examined using Cox-regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 23,464 CHD-patients (50.0% men) were identified and matched with 93,856 controls. During a median follow-up of 17.7 years, 217(0.9%) CHD-patients and 4(0.0%) controls developed IE, corresponding to incidence rates of 5.2(95%CI 4.6-6.0) and 0.02(95%CI 0.01-0.1) per 10,000 person-years, respectively. The incidence of IE was greatest among patients with tetralogy of fallot, malformations of the heart chambers (including transposition of the great arteries, univentricular heart, and truncus arteriosus), atrioventricular septal defects, and heart valve defects. Factors associated with IE among CHD-patients included male sex, cyanosis, cardiac prostheses, chronic kidney disease, and cardiac implantable electronic devices.

CONCLUSIONS

CHD-patients have a substantially higher associated incidence of IE than the background population. With the increasing longevity of these patients, relevant guidelines concerning preventive measures are important.

Perception Regarding the NICE Guideline on Antibiotic Prophylaxis against Infective Endocarditis Following Dental Procedures: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study explores the opinions of Malaysian clinical specialists on the antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis (IE) as described in the 2008 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline. This cross-sectional study was performed from September 2017 to March 2019. The self-administered questionnaire comprised two sections: background information of the specialists and their opinions on the NICE guideline. The questionnaire was distributed to 794 potential participants, and 277 responded (response rate of 34.9%). In general, 49.8% of the respondents believed that clinicians should adhere to the guideline, although the majority of oral and maxillofacial surgeons (54.5%) actually disagreed with this view. The dental procedures that were perceived as presented moderate-to-high risk for IE were minor surgery for an impacted tooth with a recent episode of infection, dental implant surgery, periodontal surgery and dental extraction in patients with poor oral hygiene. The cardiac conditions that were strongly recommended for antibiotic prophylaxis were severe mitral valve stenosis or regurgitation and previous IE. Less than half of Malaysian clinical specialists agreed with the changes in the 2008 NICE guideline, contributing to their insistence that antibiotic prophylaxis is still needed for high-risk cardiac conditions and selected invasive dental procedures.

Current Views on Infective Endocarditis: Changing Epidemiology, Improving Diagnostic Tools and Centering the Patient for Up-to-Date Management

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease, sometimes with longstanding sequels among surviving patients. The population at high risk of IE is represented by patients with underlying structural heart disease and/or intravascular prosthetic material. Taking into account the increasing number of intravascular and intracardiac procedures associated with device implantation, the number of patients at risk is growing too. If bacteremia develops, infected vegetation on the native/prosthetic valve or any intracardiac/intravascular device may occur as the final result of invading microorganisms/host immune system interaction. In the case of IE suspicion, all efforts must be focused on the diagnosis as IE can spread to almost any organ in the body. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of IE might be difficult and require a combination of clinical examination, microbiological assessment and echocardiographic evaluation. There is a need of novel microbiological and imaging techniques, especially in cases of blood culture-negative. In the last few years, the management of IE has changed. A multidisciplinary care team, including experts in infectious diseases, cardiology and cardiac surgery, namely, the Endocarditis Team, is highly recommended by the current guidelines.

Postural instability revealing infective endocarditis secondary to severe mitral stenosis: A case report with literature review

Introduction and importance

Infective endocarditis is a severe infection of the endocardial surface of the heart. One or more heart valves can be infected. However infective endocarditis complicating mitral stenosis is rare. It can be revealed by several and various symptoms such as fever and cardiac murmurs but also by complications such as focal neurological complaints

Case presentation

We report a case of a febrile postural instability as the primary presentation of an infective endocarditis secondary to a severe mitral stenosis in a young patient with a history of mitral stenosis for which he benefited from percutaneous mitral dilation. The diagnosis was based on the modified Duke criteria. In this case, the treatment was based mainly on antibiotic therapy. The outcome was favorable; with a clinical, biological and radiological improvement. The patient was subsequently referred to the cardiovascular department for surgical treatment of his valve disease.

Clinical discussion

Rheumatic heart disease is the main cause of mitral stenosis and its prevalence is higher in developing nations than in the rest of the world, yet only few articles have reported infective endocarditis as a complication of mitral stenosis.

Conclusion

Mitral stenosis is rarely complicated by infective endocarditis, but this diagnosis should not be excluded in developing countries, particularly because of its high prevalence. To that end, clinicians should recognize its symptoms and complications and act accordingly to allow early treatment.

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Mitral stenosis is rarely complicated by infective endocarditis.

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Recognizing infective endocarditis at an early stage is essential.

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Antimicrobial therapy is the backbone therapy of infective endocarditis along with surgery management, in some cases of complicated IE.

Bacteriophages for the Treatment of Graft Infections in Cardiovascular Medicine

Bacterial infections of vascular grafts represent a major burden in cardiovascular medicine, which is related to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Different factors that are associated with this medical field such as patient frailty, biofilm formation, or immunosuppression negatively influence antibiotic treatment, inhibiting therapy success. Thus, further treatment strategies are required. Bacteriophage antibacterial properties were discovered 100 years ago, but the focus on antibiotics in Western medicine since the mid-20th century slowed the further development of bacteriophage therapy. Therefore, the experience and knowledge gained until then in bacteriophage mechanisms of action, handling, clinical uses, and limitations were largely lost. However, the parallel emergence of antimicrobial resistance and individualized medicine has provoked a radical reassessment of this approach and cardiovascular surgery is one area in which phages may play an important role to cope with this new scenario. In this context, bacteriophages might be applicable for both prophylactic and therapeutic use, serving as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with antibiotics. From another perspective, standardization of phage application is also required. The ideal surgical bacteriophage application method should be less invasive, enabling highly localized concentrations, and limiting bacteriophage distribution to the infection site during a prolonged time lapse. This review describes the latest reports of phage therapy in cardiovascular surgery and discusses options for their use in implant and vascular graft infections.

Incidence of Infective Endocarditis Among Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot

Background

Patients with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) are considered at high risk of infective endocarditis (IE) as a result of altered hemodynamics and multiple invasive procedures, including pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). Data on the long‐term risk of IE are sparse.

Methods and Results

In this observational cohort study, all patients with ToF born from 1977 to 2018 were identified using Danish nationwide registries and followed from date of birth until occurrence of first‐time IE, emigration, death, or end of study (December 31, 2018). The comparative risk of IE among patients with ToF versus age‐ and sex‐matched controls from the background population was assessed. Because of rules on anonymity, exact numbers cannot be reported if the number of patients is <4. A total of 1164 patients with ToF were identified and matched with 4656 controls. Among patients with ToF, 851 (73.1%) underwent early surgical intracardiac repair and 276 (23.7%) underwent PVR during follow‐up. During a median follow‐up of 20.3 years, 41 (3.5%) patients with ToF (comprising 24 [8.7%] with PVR and 17 [1.9%] without PVR) and <4 (<0.8%) controls were admitted with IE. The incidence rates of IE per 10 000 person‐years were 22.4 (95% CI, 16.5–30.4) and 0.1 (95% CI, 0.01–0.7) among patients and controls, respectively. Moreover, PVR was associated with a further increased incidence of IE among patients with ToF (incidence rates per 10 000 person‐years with and without PVR were 46.7 [95% CI, 25.1–86.6] and 2.8 [95% CI 2.0–4.0], respectively).

Conclusions

Patients with ToF are associated with a substantially higher incidence of IE than the background population. In particular, PVR was associated with an increased incidence of IE. With an increasing life expectancy of these patients, intensified awareness, preventive measures, and surveillance of this patient group are decisive.

Infective endocarditis and solid organ transplantation: Only worse outcomes during initial transplantation hospitalization

BACKGROUND

The epidemiology, and outcome of infective endocarditis (IE) among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients is unknown.

METHODS

We used data from the 2013-2018 Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD). IE- and SOT-associated hospitalizations were identified using diagnosis and procedure codes. Outcomes included inpatient mortality, length of stay, and inpatient costs. Adjusted analyses were performed using weighted regression models.

RESULTS

A total of 99,052 IE-associated hospitalizations, corresponding to a weighted national estimate of 193,164, were included for analysis. Of these, 794 (weighted n = 1,574) were associated with transplant history (SOT-IE). Mortality was not significantly different between SOT-IE and non-SOT-IE (17.2% vs. 15.8%, adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.71, 1.03]), and fewer SOT-IE patients underwent valve repair or replacement than non-SOT-IE (12.5% vs. 16.2%, aRR 0.82, 95% CI [0.71, 0.95]). We then compared outcomes of patients diagnosed with IE during their index transplant hospitalization (index-SOT-IE) to patients without IE during their transplant hospitalization (index-SOT). Index-SOT-IE occurred most frequently among heart transplant recipients (45.1%), and was associated with greater mortality (27.1% vs. 2.3%, aRR 6.07, 95% CI [3.32, 11.11]).

CONCLUSION

Dual diagnosis of SOT and IE was associated with worse outcomes among SOT recipients during index hospitalization, but not overall among patients with IE.

Pacemaker infection and endocarditis due to Parvimonas micra: A case report and systematic review

Infective endocarditis caused by Parvimonas micra is rare. Its clinical features are presented in this systematic review. We also describe the case of an 82-year-old man with infective endocarditis and pacemaker infection due to P. micra. There are some reports of recurrence during antimicrobial therapy; hence, careful follow-up is necessary.

Valvular and infection-associated risk factors as criteria to guide the use of echocardiography in patients with native joint infections

BACKGROUND

Native joint and bone infections (NJBI) are associated with infective endocarditis (IE) in 15% of cases. There are no studies analyzing the use of cardiac imaging in cases of NJBI. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with echocardiography suggestive of IE in patients with NJBI.

METHODS

This medical records review was conducted in patients hospitalized for NJBI between 2007 and 2017 in Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases departments of 2 university hospitals. Patients included had a microbiologically proven NJBI during their hospitalization.

RESULTS

In this cohort of 546 patients, median age 66 years, echocardiography was suggestive of IE in 66 (12%). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with echocardiography suggestive of IE were 2 or more positive blood cultures (OR 11.55 (CI95% 3.24-74.20)), cardiac conditions with a high risk of IE (OR 7.34 (CI95% 2.95-18.61)), unknown heart murmur (OR 4.59 (CI95% 1.79-11.74)), multifocal infection (OR 2.26 (CI95% 1.21-4.23)) and an infection due to S. bovis (OR 3.52 (CI95% 1.26-9.79)). The factor associated with the absence of an echocardiography evocative of IE was infection due to unconventional bacteria for IE (OR 0.13 (CI95% 0.01-0.76)). According to the factors associated with echocardiography evocative of IE, we propose the Normandy score based on three kinds of data: cardiac condition, bacterial strain and NJBI mechanism. Echocardiography should be realized when this score, whose negative predictive value is 100% CI95% (98-100%) for prescription of echocardiography, is more than zero.

CONCLUSIONS

A score based on valvular condition, bacterial strain and NJBI mechanism could guide clinicians in prescribing echocardiography during NJBI with an excellent negative predictive value.

Proposal for the use of echocardiography in bloodstream infections due to different streptococcal species

Background

Infective endocarditis (IE) is diagnosed in 7–8% of streptococcal bloodstream infections (BSIs), yet it is unclear when to perform transthoracic (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) according to different streptococcal species. The aim of this sub-study was to propose a flowchart for the use of echocardiography in streptococcal BSIs.

Methods

In a population-based setup, we investigated all patients admitted with streptococcal BSIs and crosslinked data with nationwide registries to identify comorbidities and concomitant hospitalization with IE. Streptococcal species were divided in four groups based on the crude risk of being diagnosed with IE (low-risk < 3%, moderate-risk 3–10%, high-risk 10–30% and very high-risk > 30%). Based on number of positive blood culture (BC) bottles and IE risk factors (prosthetic valve, previous IE, native valve disease, and cardiac device), we further stratified cases according to probability of concomitant IE diagnosis to create a flowchart suggesting TTE plus TOE (IE > 10%), TTE (IE 3–10%), or “wait & see” (IE < 3%).

Results

We included 6393 cases with streptococcal BSIs (mean age 68.1 years [SD 16.2], 52.8% men). BSIs with low-risk streptococci (S. pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, S. intermedius) are not initially recommended echocardiography, unless they have ≥3 positive BC bottles and an IE risk factor. Moderate-risk streptococci (S. agalactiae, S. anginosus, S. constellatus, S. dysgalactiae, S. salivarius, S. thermophilus) are guided to “wait & see” strategy if they neither have a risk factor nor ≥3 positive BC bottles, while a TTE is recommended if they have either ≥3 positive BC bottles or a risk factor. Further, a TTE and TOE are recommended if they present with both. High-risk streptococci (S. mitis/oralis, S. parasanguinis, G. adiacens) are directed to a TTE if they neither have a risk factor nor ≥3 positive BC bottles, but to TTE and TOE if they have either ≥3 positive BC bottles or a risk factor. Very high-risk streptococci (S. gordonii, S. gallolyticus, S. mutans, S. sanguinis) are guided directly to TTE and TOE due to a high baseline IE prevalence.

Conclusion

In addition to the clinical picture, this flowchart based on streptococcal species, number of positive blood culture bottles, and risk factors, can help guide the use of echocardiography in streptococcal bloodstream infections. Since echocardiography results are not available the findings should be confirmed prospectively with the use of systematic echocardiography.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06391-2.

Comparison of infective endocarditis risk between balloon and self-expandable valves following transcatheter aortic valve replacement: systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to compare incidence of IE between BE and SE valves by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature. We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE and EMBASE from inception to November 2019. Included studies were published observational studies that compared the risk of IE among patients undergoing TAVR employing BE versus SE valves, using the random-effects to calculate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Ten cohort studies from April 2013 to November 2019 were included in this meta-analysis involving 13,478 subjects (6289 SE and 7189 BE types). Our study showed no statistical difference in IE rates between each type of valves (pooled OR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.68-1.35, p = 0.801 with I2 = 14.7%). There was no difference in IE rate between BE and SE valves following TAVR. Further studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

Epidemiology of infective endocarditis before versus after change of international guidelines: a systematic review

Introduction:

All major international guidelines for the management of infective endocarditis (IE) have undergone major revisions, recommending antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) restriction to high-risk patients or foregoing AP completely. We performed a systematic review to investigate the effect of these guideline changes on the global incidence of IE.

Methods:

Electronic database searches were performed using Ovid Medline, EMBASE and Web of Science. Studies were included if they compared the incidence of IE prior to and following any change in international guideline recommendations. Relevant studies fulfilling the predefined search criteria were categorized according to their inclusion of either adult or pediatric patients. Incidence of IE, causative microorganisms and AP prescription rates were compared following international guideline updates.

Results:

Sixteen studies were included, reporting over 1.3 million cases of IE. The crude incidence of IE following guideline updates has increased globally. Adjusted incidence increased in one study after European guideline updates, while North American rates did not increase. Cases of IE with a causative pathogen identified ranged from 62% to 91%. Rates of streptococcal IE varied across adult and pediatric populations, while the relative proportion of staphylococcal IE increased (range pre-guidelines 16–24.8%, range post-guidelines 26–43%). AP prescription trends were reduced in both moderate and high-risk patients following guideline updates.

Discussion:

The restriction of AP to only high-risk patients has not resulted in an increase in the incidence of streptococcal IE in North American populations. The evidence of the impact of AP restriction on IE incidence is still unclear for other populations. Future population-based studies with adjusted incidence of IE, AP prescription rates and accurate pathogen identification are required to delineate findings further in these other regions.

Staphylococcus Auricularis Endocarditis: A Rare Cause of Subacute Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis with Severe Aortic Stenosis

Prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) represents 20% of all cases of endocarditis. Herein, we present a rare cause of PVE by Staphylococcus auricularis (S. auricularis) exhibiting features of subacute endocarditis causing severe aortic stenosis and acute myocardial infarction.

Incidence of infective endocarditis during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A nationwide study

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The incidence of IE during lockdown was 11.1 IE cases per 100,000 PY.

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No reduction in the incidence of IE during the lockdown compared to preceding years.

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No difference in the incidence of IE pre- versus post-lockdown in 2020.

Background

The incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) has increased in recent decades. Societal lockdown including reorganization of the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic may influence the incidence of IE. This study sets out to investigate the incidence of IE during the Danish national lockdown.

Methods

In this nationwide cohort study, patients admitted with IE in either one of two periods A) A combined period of 1 January to 7 May for 2018 and 2019, or B) 1 January to 6 May 2020, were identified using Danish nationwide registries. Weekly incidence rates of IE admissions for the 2018/2019-period and 2020-period were computed and incidence rate ratios (IRR) for 2020-incidence vs 2018/2019-incidence were calculated using Poisson regression analysis.

Results

In total, 208 (67.3% men, median age 74.1 years) and 429 (64.1% men, median age 72.7 years) patients were admitted with IE in 2020 and 2018/2019, respectively. No significant difference in incidence rates were found comparing the 2020-period and 2018/2019-period (IRR: 0.96 (95% CI: 0.82–1.14). The overall incidence rate pre-lockdown (week 1–10: 1 January to 11 March 2020) was 14.2 IE cases per 100,000 person years (95% CI: 12.0–16.9) as compared with 11.4 IE cases per 100,000 person years (95% CI: 9.1–14.1) during lockdown (week 11–18: 12 March to 6 May 2020) corresponding to an IRR of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.60–1.06) and thus no significant difference pre- versus post-lockdown.

Conclusion

In this nationwide cohort study, no significant difference in the incidence of IE admissions during the national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic was found.

Prevalence of infective endocarditis in patients with positive blood cultures: a Danish nationwide study

AIMS

Increasing attention has been given to the risk of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with certain blood stream infections (BSIs). Previous studies have been conducted on selected patient cohorts, yet unselected data are sparse. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of IE in BSIs with bacteria typically associated with IE.

METHODS AND RESULTS

By crosslinking nationwide registries from 2010 to 2017, we identified patients with BSIs typically associated with IE: Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Streptococcus spp., and coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) and examined the concurrent IE prevalence. A trend test was used to examine temporal changes in the prevalence of IE. In total 69 021, distributed with 15 350, 16 726, 19 251, and 17 694 BSIs were identified in the periods of 2010-2011, 2012-2013, 2014-2015, and 2016-2017, respectively. Patients with E. faecalis had the highest prevalence of IE (16.7%) followed by S. aureus (10.1%), Streptococcus spp. (7.3%), and CoNS (1.6%). Throughout the study period, the prevalence of IE among patients with E. faecalis and Streptococcus spp. increased significantly (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.03, respectively). Male patients had a higher prevalence of IE for E. faecalis, Streptococcus spp., and CoNS compared with females. A significant increase in the prevalence of IE was seen for E. faecalis, Streptococcus spp., and CoNS with increasing age.

CONCLUSION

For E. faecalis BSI, 1 in 6 had IE, for S. aureus BSI 1 in 10 had IE, and for Streptococcus spp. 1 in 14 had IE. Our results suggest that screening for IE seems reasonable in patients with E. faecalis BSI, S. aureus BSI, or Streptococcus spp. BSI.

Uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia Treatment Duration and Outcomes at an Academic Medical Center

We compared outcomes and clinical characteristics of uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia planned for a 14-day or >14-day course of intravenous antibiotics. Treatment failure was infrequent in both groups (0% and 5%, respectively). Catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis, immunosuppression, and valvular dysfunction were associated with a longer planned duration of therapy.

Infective endocarditis: innovations in the management of an old disease

The annual incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) is estimated to be between 15 and 80 cases per million persons in population-based studies. The incidence of IE is markedly increased in patients with valve prostheses (>4 per 1,000) or with prior IE (>10 per 1,000). The interaction between platelets, microorganisms and diseased valvular endothelium is the cause of vegetations and valvular or perivalvular tissue destruction. Owing to its complexity, the diagnosis of IE is facilitated by the use of the standardized Duke-Li classification, which combines two major criteria (microbiology and imaging) with five minor criteria. However, the sensitivity of the Duke-Li classification is suboptimal, particularly in prosthetic IE, and can be improved by the use of PET or radiolabelled leukocyte scintigraphy. Prolonged antibiotic therapy is mandatory. Indications for surgery during acute IE depend on the presence of haemodynamic, septic and embolic complications. The most urgent indications for surgery are related to heart failure. In the past decade, the prevention of IE has been reoriented, with indications for antibiotic prophylaxis now limited to patients at high risk of IE undergoing dental procedures. Guidelines now emphasize the importance of nonspecific oral and cutaneous hygiene in individual patients and during health-care procedures.

Microbial biofilm correlates with an increased antibiotic tolerance and poor therapeutic outcome in infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND

Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high rates of mortality. Prolonged treatments with high-dose intravenous antibiotics often fail to eradicate the infection, frequently leading to high-risk surgical intervention. By providing a mechanism of antibiotic tolerance, which escapes conventional antibiotic susceptibility profiling, microbial biofilm represents a key diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. This study aims at assessing a rapid biofilm identification assay and a targeted antimicrobial susceptibility profile of biofilm-growing bacteria in patients with IE, which were unresponsive to antibiotic therapy.

RESULTS

Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate (50%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis (25%) and Streptococcus gallolyticus (25%). All microbial isolates were found to be capable of producing large, structured biofilms in vitro. As expected, antibiotic treatment either administered on the basis of antibiogram or chosen empirically among those considered first-line antibiotics for IE, including ceftriaxone, daptomycin, tigecycline and vancomycin, was not effective at eradicating biofilm-growing bacteria. Conversely, antimicrobial susceptibility profile of biofilm-growing bacteria indicated that teicoplanin, oxacillin and fusidic acid were most effective against S. aureus biofilm, while ampicillin was the most active against S. gallolyticus and E. faecalis biofilm, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicates that biofilm-producing bacteria, from surgically treated IE, display a high tolerance to antibiotics, which is undetected by conventional antibiograms. The rapid identification and antimicrobial tolerance profiling of biofilm-growing bacteria in IE can provide key information for both antimicrobial therapy and prevention strategies.