ABSTRACT
In the following case review, we present a 49-year-old male without a history of injection drug (IDU) use nor any known structural heart disease, who developed left-sided pseudomonal infectious endocarditis. The only known risk factors were urinary tract infection (UTI) with secondary bacteremia and prolonged healthcare contact with admission to the intensive care unit. Infectious endocarditis (IE) is the infection of the endocardium. The official diagnosis can only be established after histological and microbiological studies confirm microorganism-colonized vegetations in the heart valves, but a clinical suspicion with high sensitivity and specificity can be approached with modified Duke's criteria. Even though structural heart disease is the major predisposing factor for IE, healthcare-associated IE has risen with the new therapeutic interventions. Transient bacteremia, which might result after various procedures, forms part of the factors causing healthcare-associated IE. Although both, community-acquired and hospital-acquired infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been reported, pure community-acquired infections without previous exposure to the hospital or healthcare environment are extremely rare. Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are at special risk for this microbe. It is considered an important causative agent in ventilator/associated pneumonia, catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI), and catheter-associated bloodstream infections. IE by P. aeruginosa remains a rare form of IE. Though 95% of cases are associated with injection drug use (IDU), healthcare contact is becoming more important each day as the primary risk factor. The most common complications include abscesses in the ring and annulus, congestive heart failure (CHF), embolisms, inability to sterilize valves, splenic abscesses, recurrent bacteremia, and neurologic complications. This condition is highly fatal, with a mortality rate of over 73% for patients older than 30 years. Recommended antibiotic treatment for IE caused by P. aeruginosa consists of high-dose tobramycin in combination with antipseudomonal penicillin or high-dose ceftazidime, cefepime, or imipenem.
ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Introducción: El tratamiento anticoagulante (TACO) es uno de los pilares en la prevención del accidente cerebrovascular. Objetivos: Conocer los hábitos de inicio del TACO, las dificultades en su continuidad y la incorporación de nuevos anticoagulantes orales (NAO). Analizar las conductas médicas. Material y Métodos: Encuesta cerrada a 107 cardiólogos. Resultados: En el inicio del TACO, el 52,3% adoptó una decisión con el paciente. Fueron reconocidos diversos inconvenientes para su continuidad y el 85% eligió al costo como la dificultad para incorporar NAO. En pacientes de alto riesgo y FA de tiempo incierto, el 83,2% eligió TACO y control de frecuencia cardíaca. En pacientes de bajo riesgo con FA paroxística, el 54,2% optó por el seguimiento. En pacientes con alto riesgo embolígeno y de sangrado, el 75,7% decidió TACO. Conclusiones: Se observó una tendencia a dar participación al paciente en el inicio del TACO y múltiples dificultades para sostenerlo. El precio de los NAO condiciona su uso. Las conductas médicas fueron concordantes con lo que indican las guías.
SUMMARY Introduction: The anticoagulant treatment (ACOT) is one of the pillars in the prevention of stroke. Objectives: To know the habits of initiation of ACOT, difficulties in its continuity, incorporation of new anticoagulants (NOA), and analyze medical behaviors. Material and Methods: Survey closed to 107 cardiologists. Results: At the beginning of ACOT, 52.3% cardiologists adopted a decision with the patient, several inconveniences were recognized for its continuity, and 85% chose the economic cost as a difficulty to incorporate NOA. In High risk and AF of uncertain time: 83.2% cardiologists chose ACOT and frequency control. In Low risk with paroxysmal AF: 54.2% opted for follow-up. In High risk embolism and bleeding: 75.7% decided ACOT. Conclusions: A tendency to involve the patient at the beginning of ACOT, and multiple difficulties to sustain it was observed. The use of NAO is conditioned by economic cost. The medical behaviors were consistent with the guidelines.
