Tomografía por emisión de positrones en endocarditis infecciosa asociada a dispositivos y válvulas protésicas / Positron emission tomography in infective endocarditis associated with intracardiac devices and prosthetic valves

La endocarditis infecciosa (EI) es una enfermedad grave y potencialmente letal. La capacidad diagnóstica de los criterios de Duke modificados es alta para válvulas nativas, pero decae en el caso de EI de válvulas protésicas o EI asociadas a dispositivos. El ecocardiograma y los hallazgos microbiológicos son fundamentales para el diagnóstico, pero pueden resultar insuficientes en este grupo de pacientes. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar la utilidad de la tomografía por emisión de positrones y fusión con tomografía computarizada (PET/TC) en pacientes con sospecha de EI, portadores de válvulas protésicas o dispositivos intracardiacos. Se estudiaron 32 pacientes, a los cuales se les realizó un PET/CT con 18F-Flúor desoxiglucosa (18F-FDG). Se consideraron sugestivos de infección aquellos con captación intensa de tipo focal y/o heterogénea con un punto de corte de Standard Uptake Value (SUV) mayor o igual a 3.7. Los diagnósticos iniciales según los criterios de Duke modificados, se compararon con el diagnóstico final establecido por la Unidad de Endocarditis institucional. El agregado del PET/CT a esos criterios, proporcionó un diagnóstico concluyente en 22 de los 32 casos iniciales, reclasificando a 11 casos en EI definitivas y a otros 5 casos como negativos para ese diagnóstico. La EI continúa siendo un grave problema clínico. En aquellos casos donde los criterios de Duke no son suficientes para establecer el diagnóstico y la sospecha clínica persiste, el PET/CT puede ser una herramienta complementaria útil para aumentar la sensibilidad diagnóstica.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious and potentially lethal condition. The diagnostic capacity of the modified Duke criteria is high for native valves, but it declines in the case of EI of prosthetic valves or EI associated with devices. Echocardiography and microbiological findings are essential for diagnosis but may be insufficient in this group of patients. Our objective was to evaluate the usefulness of positron emission tomography and fusion with computed tomography (PET / CT) in patients with suspected IE, carriers of prosthetic valves or intracardiac devices; 32 patients were studied, who underwent PET / CT with 18F-Fluorine deoxyglucose (18F-FDG). Those with intense focal and/or heterogeneous uptake with a Standard Uptake Value (SUV) cut-off point greater than or equal to 3.7 were considered suggestive of infection. The initial diagnoses according to the modified Duke criteria were compared with the final diagnosis established by the Institutional Endocarditis Unit. The addition of PET / CT to these criteria, provided a conclusive diagnosis in 22 of the 32 initial cases reclassifying 11 cases in definitive EI; another 5 cases were negative for that diagnosis. EI continues to be a serious clinical problem. In those cases where the Duke criteria are not sufficient to establish the diagnosis and clinical suspicion persists, PET / CT can be a useful complementary tool to increase the diagnostic sensitivity.

Mycobacterium neoaurum causing prosthetic valve endocarditis: a case report and review of the literature

Mycobacterium neoaurum is a rare cause of bacteremia, and infection usually occurs in an immunocompromised host in the setting of an indwelling catheter. Prosthetic valve endocarditis due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria typically carries a dismal prognosis; we report a case ofM. neoaurum prosthetic valve endocarditis with favorable response to antimicrobial therapy without surgical intervention.

Surgical Experience with Infective Endocarditis and Aortic Root Abscess

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the surgical outcomes of active infective endocarditis with aortic root abscess formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 1999 and June 2012, 49 patients underwent surgery for active endocarditis with aortic root abscess. The infected valve was native in 29 patients and prosthetic in 20 patients. The patients' mean age was 50+/-14 years, and 36 patients were male. Surgery was urgent/emergent in 15 patients (31%). The abscess involved the aortic annulus (11), left ventricular outflow tract (18), fibrous trigone (16), and mitral annulus (4). In all patients, wide debridement of abscess and aortic valve replacement with or without patch reconstruction of aortic root or annulus was performed. RESULTS: There were 6 (12%) operative deaths. Causes of early mortality were sepsis (2) and multi-organ failure (4). On postoperative echocardiogram, there was significant improvement of left ventricular dimension (LVEDD, from 58.8+/-11.8 mm to 52.6+/-8.2 mm, p<0.001); however, LV ejection fraction was significantly decreased (from 61.4+/-12.0% to 49.8+/-16.5%, p<0.001). The mean follow-up duration was 68.7+/-40.4 months. There was no late death or recurrent endocarditis during follow up. New York Heart Association functional class significantly improved from 3.2+/-0.7 to 1.2+/-0.4 (p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimated survival at 10 years was 87.2%. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment for active endocarditis with aortic root abscess is still challenging, and was associated with high operative mortality. Nevertheless, long-term survival was excellent with good functional capacity after recovery from the early postoperative period.

Endocarditis infecciosa por Listeria monocytogenes: revisión de la literatura a partir de un caso clínico / Infective endocarditis caused by Listeria monocytogenes: review of the literature and a case report

Infective endocarditis caused by Listeria monocytogenesis an extremely rare but usually aggressive disease. We have seen in recent years an increase in age of onset of this disease and a predilection for patients with valvular disease, especially prosthetic valve. The treatment of choice is ampicillin, which is combined with gentamicin for synergy. It is known that even with treatment the mortality is very high and higher than in other types of bacterial endocarditis. With optimal therapy, that is medical-surgical, mortality has declined significantly in recent years. We presents a review of the literature and a clinical case of a patient with a febrile syndrome diagnosed as a infective endocarditis caused by L. monocytogenestreated medically with successful outcome to date.

La endocarditis infecciosa por Listeria monocytogenes es una enfermedad extremadamente infrecuente, pero usualmente agresiva. Se ha observado en los últimos años un aumento en la edad de presentación y una predilección por pacientes con enfermedad valvular, especialmente válvula protésica. El tratamiento de elección es ampicilina combinada con un aminoglucósido para obtener sinergismo. Aun con un tratamiento adecuado, la mortalidad es elevada y mayor que en otros tipos de endocarditis bacteriana. Con una terapia óptima, incluyendo la resolución quirúrgica, la mortalidad ha disminuido significativamente en los últimos años. Se presenta una revisión de la literatura científica a partir de un caso clínico de un paciente con un síndrome febril en el que se diagnosticó una endocarditis por L. monocytogenesque fue tratada en forma médica con un resultado exitoso.

Salmonella species group B causing endocarditis of the prosthetic mitral valve

The Salmonella species is an extremely rare cause of infective endocarditis. This case report is for Salmonella spp. group B proven by positive multiple blood cultures, and positive intraoperative culture from the vegetation of the mitral valve prosthesis

Cirugía de la endocarditis infecciosa en un centro regional en Chile: Análisis de casos y resultados en el largo plazo / Surgery for bacterial endocarditis: Retrospective study of 32 patients

Background: Surgery for active endocarditis is indicated in cases of congestive heart failure (CHF), persistent sepsis, systemic embolization and paravalvular involvement. Aim: To assess and report the long term results of surgery in adult patients. Patients and methods: Retrospective review of clinical records and operative procedures of 32 patients aged 43± 13 years (28 women) subjected to reparative surgery for complications of endocarditis between 1993 to 2005. Results: In 25 percent of cases, endocarditis presented as a prolonged sepsis syndrome and in 31 percent as a CHF or both. The causative bacteria was Gram (+) in 53 percent and blood cultures were negative in 47 percent. Preoperative echocardiography showed vegetations in 56 percent of cases. An annular abscess, aortic valve rupture and bicuspid valve, was observed in 13 percent of patients. Post operative mortality was due to persistent sepsis and multiorganic dysfunction in 16 percent. Mean long term follow up was 43.8±47.2 months. Actuarial survival was 78 percent at 146 months. Conclusion: Surgical management of active endocarditis provides a good symptomatic recovery, with an excellent long term actuarial survival.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis: early outcome following medical or surgical treatment

Prosthetic valve endocarditis [PVE] is an important cause of morbidity and mortality associated with heart valve replacement surgery. The aim of the present study was to describe the early outcome of treatment in patients with PVE in a single center. The data of all the episodes of PVE registered at our institution between 2002 and 2007 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The patients were assessed using clinical criteria defined by Durack and colleagues [Duke criteria]. The analysis included a detailed study of hospital records. The continuous variables were expressed as mean +/- standard deviation, and the discrete variables were presented as percentages. Thirteen patients with PVE were diagnosed and treated at our center during the study period. In all the cases, mechanical prostheses were utilized. The patients' mean age was 46.9 +/- 12.8 years. Women made up 53.8% of all the cases. Early PVE was detected in 6 [46.2%] patients, and late PVE occurred in 7 [53.8%]. Eleven [84.6%] patients were treated with intravenous antimicrobial therapy, and the other two [15.4%] required surgical removal and replacement of the infected prosthesis in addition to antibiotic therapy. Blood cultures became positive in 46.2% of the patients. Mortality rate was 15.4% [2 patients]. It seems that in selected cases with PVE, i.e. in those who remain clinically stable and respond well to antimicrobial therapy, a cure could be achieved by antimicrobial treatment alone with acceptable morbidity and mortality risk

Late prosthetic valve endocarditis due to Cardiobacterium hominis, an unusual complication.

We report a case of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Cardiobacterium hominis in a patient who had undergone atrial septal defect closure and mitral valve replacement of the heart in 1978. He presented with pyrexia of unknown origin and congestive cardiac failure. Investigations revealed infective endocarditis of prosthetic valve in mitral portion. Blood culture samples grew C. hominis. The patient was empirically started on vancomycin and gentamicin intravenously and ceftriaxone was added after isolation of the organism. Though subsequent blood cultures were negative, patient remained in congestive cardiac failure and died due to complications.

Homograft valve bank: our experience in valve banking.

BACKGROUND: A cardiac homograft valve bank with cryopreservation facility was established at the Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai in July 1995. METHODS AND RESULTS: During the last 7 1/2 years of its existence, from July 1995 to March 2003, 588 hearts were processed. The valves harvested were 390 aortic, 400 pulmonary and 39 others including mitral valve, aortic conduits, pericardium etc.; 176 (29.9%) hearts were discarded for various reasons which included failure to sterilize, HBV, HIV, HCV, treponema pallidum hemagglutination test positivity, atheromatous/fatty streaks, incompetent valves, and dissection mistakes. The valves were sterilized using an antibiotic cocktail of vancomycin, amikacin, streptomycin, cefotaxime and amphotericin B in Hank's balanced salt solution. Of the 585 valves issued for clinical use, 247 were aortic, 323 pulmonary and 15 others (mitral valve, pericardium, conduits). Gram negative bacilli were the predominant contaminants from the hearts during the first half (July 1995 to February 1999) and gram positive organisms were the predominant contaminants during the later half (March 1999 to March 2003) of the study period. A variety of fungal contaminants like candida, aspergillus, penicillium and other fungi were also isolated from the homograft hearts at procurement. The valves were used most commonly for Rastelli procedure/right ventricular-pulmonary artery conduit (48.71%) followed by Ross procedure (23.41%). The other procedures were aortic valve replacement (6.15%), truncus repair (5.81%), unifocalization with conduit repair (6.49%), aortoplasty (0.512%), left ventricular-pulmonary artery conduit (0.512%), pulmonary valve replacement (0.512%), aneurysm repair (0.34%), Norwood repair (0.34%), mitral valve replacement (0.17%) and other procedures (7%). CONCLUSIONS: We have established a viable and functioning cardiac homograft valve bank to suit Indian conditions and till date, have issued 585 homograft valves for clinical use.

Consideraciones clínico-epidemiológicas en relación a la etiología de las endocarditis infecciosas / Clinic-epidemiologycal considerations related with the infectious endocarditis etiology

La endocarditis infecciosa (EI) persiste como patología frecuente y trascendente. Ha cambiado en relación a la endocarditis subaguda tradicional de antaño: otros tipos de huéspedes, otros factores de riesgo y patologías subyacentes y modificaciones en la distribución etiológica y resistencia de sus agentes causales. Siguen predominando largamente los agentes bacterianos clásicos, aunque se están reconociendo agentes atípicos dados los progresos del diagnóstico microbiológico, serológico y molecular. Desde un punto de vista práctico es útil diferenciar 4 tipos de endocarditis, con distintas manifestaciones, criterios diagnósticos comunes y, en particular, diferente distribución etiológica, que ayuda a buscar con dedicación preferencial los agentes más característicos o, en caso de fallar en el diagnóstico etiológico orientar y dirigir la terapia empírica. Se distingue la clásica EI de paciente valvulópata previo de adquisición extrahospitalaria en donde predomina Streptococcus spp largamente seguido de S aureus y Enterococcus sp. Está luego la EI del paciente con drogadicción endovenosa, excepcional en Chile, cuya etiología mayoritaria es S aureus y en menos grado bacilos Gram negativos (BGN) y menos aún hongos. EI en valvula protésica con etiología variable de acuerdo al momento de ocurrencia, primando S aureus, S coagulasa negativo (SCN), BGN y hongo en la fase precoz, y una distribución más clásica en los casos tardíos sin nunca perder importancia S aureus y SCN. Finalmente están las EI nosocomiales de pacientes con múltiples patologías de base, no siempre cardíacas que hacen EI como consecuencia de bacteremias nosocomiales cuya etiología representa la distribución de éstas, pero predominando S aureus, SCN y BGN.

Endocarditis en prótesis valvulares / Infective endocarditis on valvular prothesis

La Endocarditis Infecciosa sobre prótesis valvulares (EIPV) es una enfermedad con elevada morbimortalidad, en especial durante la fase activa y con un riesgo importante de graves complicaciones durante su evolución que obligan con frecuencia a una nueva cirugía para hacer un recambio valvular, erradicar los tejidos infectados y reconstruir la anatomía. Se discuten aspectos de su etiopatogenia, infección por gérmenes y esquemas de terapia antibiótica, aspectos clínicos, métodos diagnósticos y terapéuticos, en especial el manejo quirúrgico.

Infección de prótesis de aorta ascendente: tratamiento con aseo quirúrgico, preservación de prótesis y transposición de colgajo muscular en dos casos / Infection of ascending aortic graft: treatment with surgical cleaning, graft preservation and transposition of muscle flaps, report of 2 cases

Mediastinitis with graft infection is a serious complication of ascending aorta replacement. We report two cases of graft infection, treated with surgical cleaning, graft preservation and transposition of muscle flaps. A 62 years old male was admitted 34 days after an ascending aortic grafting due to a sternal dehiscence and mediastinitis. Antimicrobial treatment was started and a surgical cleaning performed, leaving an open sternotomy. Three days later, the thoracic cavity was closed with a rectus abdominis muscle flap. After 23 months of follow up, the patient is well and without evidence of infection. A 74 years old male was subjected to an aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement and a myocardial revascularization. In the postoperative period, the patient developed septic signs, and a purulent drainage. A CAT scan showed a liquid collection surrounding the aortic graft. On tW Sixteenth postoperative day, a surgical cleaning was performed and the thorax was closed with the pectoralis major muscle. After 10 months of follow up, the patient is in Good condition and without evidence of infection

Endocarditis infecciosa: análisis de 261 casos y resultados del tratamiento con un enfoque multidisciplinario / Infectious endocarditis: short and long term results in 261 cases managed by a multidisciplinary approach

Background: Early diagnosis, an effective treatment and prompt recognition of complications are essential to improve the prognosis of infective endocarditis (IE) Aim: To report the results of a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management of patients with IE at the Universidad Cat-lica de Chile Hospital. Patients and methods: The clinical history, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of 261 episodes (Duke criteria) of IE admitted between January 1980 and January 1999 were analyzed. These included 185 episodes of native, 73 of prosthetic valve and 3 of nonvalvular IE. Results: Sixty nine percent of patients were men and the mean age was 49 ñ 16 years. Seventy five percent had a definite diagnosis of IE (Duke). S. viridans, staphylococci and enterococci together constituted 85 percent of the isolated bacterial strains. Twenty seven had culture-negative IE, related to a high incidence of antibiotic therapy prior to diagnosis. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in 102 cases and it detected vegetations in 91 percent of aortic and 96 percent of mitral IE, rupture or prosthesis dehiscence in 67 percent of aortic and 52 percent of mitral IE and abscesses in 51 percent of aortic and 15 percent of mitral IE. Fifty one percent developed heart failure and 34 percent had embolic events. S. aureus IE was associated to a higher incidence of embolic events, complications which contraindicated surgery and increased mortality rate (27 percent). Of all patients, 40 percent were treated exclusively with antibiotics, 52 percent were operated on and 8 percent had surgical indication but were nonoperable because of serious complications. The overall mortality was 16.3 percent: 13 percent in the medical, 9 percent in the surgical and 81 percent in the non-operable groups. The type of treatment and mortality rates did not differ between IE of native valves and prosthetic valves. Long term follow up showed survival rates of 73 percent at 5 years and 66 percent at 10 years. Conclusion: A multidisciplinary approach may be very helpful to improve the prognosis of IE

Endocarditis infecciosa: análisis retrospectivo de tres años (1995-1997) / Infective endocarditis: a 3-year retrospective analysis (1995-97)

Fueron analizadas retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de 24 pacientes con endocarditis infecciosa en el período comprendido entre enero de 1995 y diciembre de 1997, con el objetivo de conocer las características de este grupo. La mitad de los pacientes tenían implantados marcapasos permanentes y la tercera parte eran portadores de cardiopatías valvulares primitivas. La puerta de entrada se identificó en el 45,8 porciento de los pacientes y en casi las dos terceras partes de ellos fue la sepsis del bolsillo del marcapasos el inicio de la infección. Los microorganismos causales se determinaron en el 79,2 porciento y los gérmenes más frecuentes fueron el estafilococo coagulasa positivo, el estafilococo coagulasa negativo y el estreptococo viridans. La forma de resolución fue quirúrgica en 14 enfermos y médica en 2. Fallecieron 8 pacientes como consecuencia de complicaciones cardíacas y sépticas. Concluimos que debe realizarse una rigurosa profilaxis antibiótica a los pacientes con prótesis valvular cardíaca o con marcapasos permanentes ante cualquier instrumentación quirúrgica por el alto riesgo de que se presente la endocarditis infecciosa

Tratamiento medico exitoso de una endocarditis en valvula protesica por Candida tropicalis / Successful medical treatment of Candida tropicalis in prosthetic valve endocarditis

La curación sin cirugía de la endocarditis micótica en válvula protésica es raramente descripta. Comunicamos un caso de endocarditis por Candida tropicalis sobre una prótese biológica en posición tricuspídea, en la que se consideró que la cirurgía estaba contraindicada. Se había identificado una gran vegetación sobre la prótesis biológica. Se inició tratamiento antimicótico, observándose mejoría progressiva del cuadro y desaparición de la vegetación a lo largo de 15 meses de seguimiento. El tratamiento completó 2 gr de anfotericina B para continuar luego con fluconazol. Nuestra paciente representa el primer caso de endocarditis en válvula protésica por Candida tropicalis que sobrevive sin cirugía.