Blood stream Infections in chronic hemodialysis patients - characteristics and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Bloodstream Infections (BSI) are a major cause of death and hospitalization among hemodialysis (HD) patients. The rates of BSI among HD patients vary and are influenced by local patient and pathogen characteristics. Modifications in local infection prevention protocols in light of active surveillance of BSI has been shown to improve clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to further explore factors associated with BSI in a contemporary cohort of HD patients at a public teaching hospital dialysis center in Israel. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of HD patients with a BSI in the years 2014 to 2018. The primary outcome was the occurrence of BSI. Secondary outcomes were to describe the causative pathogens of BSI, and to assess for risk factors for BSI, and mortality. RESULTS: Included were 251 patients. The mean age was 68.5 ± 13.4 years, 66.9% were male. The mean time from initiation of dialysis was 34.76 ± 40.77 months, interquartile range (IQR) 1-47.5 months and the follow up period of the cohort was 25.17 ± 15.9 months. During the observation period, 44 patients (17.5%) developed 54 BSI events, while 10 of them (3.9% of the whole cohort) developed recurrent BSI events. Gram-negative microorganisms caused 46.3% of all BSI events. 31.4% of these BSI were caused by resistant bacteria. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, patients receiving dialysis through a central line had a significantly increased risk for BSI adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 3.907, p = 0.005, whereas patients' weight was mildly protective (aOR 0.971, p = 0.024). CONCLUSIONS: We noted an increased prevalence of gram-negative pathogens in the etiology of BSI in HD patients. Based on our findings, additional empirical antibiotics addressing gram negative bacteria have been added to our empirical treatment protocol. Our findings highlight the need to follow local epidemiology for implementing appropriate preventative measures and for tailoring appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy.

Long-Term Outcomes and Characteristics Associated With Mortality of Adult Patients Post Fontan Surgery: 27-Year Single-Center Experience.

Data on the characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent Fontan surgery and surviving into adulthood are limited. We aimed to describe our center's long-term experience with this unique patient population. Included were adult patients who had undergone Fontan surgery and were followed up at our Adult Congenital Heart Disease clinic between the years 1994 and 2021. We describe cardiac and noncardiac morbidities, medical treatment, laboratory data, echocardiographic characteristics, and all-cause mortality. The primary outcome was a composite of heart failure hospitalizations or death. A total of 107 patients who underwent Fontan surgery were followed up during the study period; 46.7% were male. The mean age at time of Fontan was 7.4 ± 6.2 years and the mean age at the last follow-up or at the time of an outcome event was 35.0 ± 8.0 years (range 21.1 to 62.8). At the last documented follow-up, 74.7% of the cohort were in New York Heart Association functional class I/II. The common morbidities included atrial arrythmias (37%) and stroke (17%). The primary outcome occurred in 17.7%. By the end of the study period, 9.3% of the patients in the cohort died. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, controlling for gender, age, and Fontan type, worse functional class at the last follow-up (New York Heart Association III/IV vs I/II) was significantly associated with the risk of the primary outcome (odds ratio 34.57, 95% confidence interval 6.728 to 177.623, p <0.001). In conclusion, long-term outcomes of patients surviving into adulthood with a Fontan circulation is encouraging. Most of these patients achieve good functional cardiovascular status, despite the complex anatomy and a substantial burden of co-morbid conditions, specifically, atrial arrythmias and thrombotic events. Functional class was independently associated with heart failure hospitalizations and mortality.

Risk Factors for Superficial Thrombophlebitis: A Retrospective Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding risk factors for superficial thrombophlebitis (STP) cases presenting to a hospital is limited. OBJECTIVES: To investigate and stratify clinical and laboratory risk factors for STP. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case control study comparing patients presenting to the emergency department with STP and age- and gender-matched controls. We collected data on multiple risk factors and five blood indices. RESULTS: The study comprised 151 patients and matched controls. Patients with STP were more likely to have varicose veins (43.7% vs. 5.3%, P < 0.001), recent immobilization (14.6% vs. 1.3%, P < 0.001), obesity (36.4% vs. 18.5%, P = 0.001), a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE) or STP (27.2% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.001), and inherited thrombophilia (9.3% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.002). Following multivariate analysis, all five risk factors remained significant, with a history of VTE or STP associated with the largest risk (odds ratio [OR] 35.7), followed by immobilization (OR 22.3), varicose veins (OR 12.1), inherited thrombophilia (OR 6.1), and obesity (OR 2.7). Mean platelet volume was higher (8.5 vs 7.9 fl, P = 0.003) in STP cases. CONCLUSIONS: A history of VTE or STP, immobilization, varicose veins, inherited thrombophilia, and obesity serve as independent clinical risk factors for STP presenting to hospital.

Coronary Artery Disease in Women: A Comprehensive Appraisal.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a significant cause of illness and death amongst women. The pathophysiology, manifestations, and outcomes of CVD and CAD differ between sexes. These sex differences remain under-recognized. The aim of this review is to highlight and raise awareness of the burden and unique aspects of CAD in women. It details the unique pathophysiology of CAD in women, cardiovascular risk factors in women (both traditional and sex-specific), the clinical presentation of CAD in women, and the range of disease in obstructive and non-obstructive CAD in women.

Temporal trends in the pre-procedural TIMI flow grade among patients with ST- segment elevation myocardial infarction - From the ACSIS registry.

BACKGROUND: Pre-procedural TIMI coronary flow grade in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. There have been great advances in pharmacologic and invasive treatment of STEMI patients in the current era. We aimed to assess the temporal trends in clinical outcomes according to the TIMI flow grade amongst these patients. METHODS: Data of patients with STEMI from the acute coronary syndrome Israeli Survey (ACSIS) registry. A time-dependent analysis stratifying patient by TIMI flow grade 0 and TIMI flow grade 1-3 was performed. Survey years were divided to early (2008-2010) and late period (2013-2018). Clinical outcomes included in-hospital complications, 30d MACE (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, stent thrombosis, urgent revascularization) and 1-year mortality.Results and Conclusions: Included were 2453 patients. The majority of patients had pre-procedural TIMI flow 0 (58.9% in the early period and 58.7% in the late period, P = 0.97). In-hospital complications of patients with TIMI flow 0 has significantly decreased over time (36.1% vs 26.8%, P < 0.001) but not amongst patients with TIMI flow 1-3. Compared with TIMI flow 1-3, patients with TIMI flow 0 had worse 30d MACE and 1-year mortality. There was no temporal change of these outcomes in either TIMI flow grade group. TIMI flow grade 0 is still more common among patients with STEMI and is associated with poorer prognosis. Nevertheless, over time, in-hospital complications have decreased among patients with TIMI 0, while 30d MACE and 1-year mortality has remained unchanged.

Assessment of the CHA2DS2-VASc Score in Predicting Mortality and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes of Patients on Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing chronic hemodialysis are at high mortality and cardiovascular risk. This study was aimed to assess whether the CHA2DS2-VASc score may be used for risk stratification of this population. METHODS: Included were patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis at Meir Medical Center. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated for each patient at the initiation of hemodialysis. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score: 0-3 (low), 4-5 (intermediate), and ≥6 (high). The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke during the first year of hemodialysis. RESULTS: Of the 457 patients with ESRD, 181 (40%) had low, 193 (42%) intermediate, and 83 (18%) high CHA2DS2-VASc scores. During the first year of hemodialysis, 109 (23.8%) patients died, 17 (3.7%) had a stroke, and 28 (6.1%) had a myocardial infarction. Compared to patients in the low CHA2DS2-VASc score group, those in the intermediate and high score groups had higher risk for the composite endpoint (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.6-4.2, p < 0.01 and OR: 4.2, 95% CI: 2.3-7.5, p < 0.01, respectively). Each 1-point increase in CHA2DS2-VASc score was associated with a 38% increased risk for the composite endpoint, a 19% increased risk for 1-year myocardial infarction, and a 29% increased risk for 1-year stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ESRD are at an extremely high mortality and cardiovascular risk within the first year of hemodialysis. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was strongly associated with adverse outcomes and may be used for risk stratification of these patients.

The Aspirin Primary Prevention Conundrum.

BACKGROUND: In this review, the authors re-examine the role of aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. They discuss the history of the use of aspirin in primary prevention, the current guidelines, and the recent evidence surrounding aspirin use as primary prevention in special populations such as those with moderate cardiovascular risk, diabetes mellitus, and the elderly.

The Muddied Waters of Ibrutinib Therapy.

A 37-year-old male was admitted with an atypical presentation of central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis while on ibrutinib therapy for a CNS relapse of mantle cell lymphoma. This case highlights the importance of a high clinical suspicion of opportunistic infections in patients receiving small-molecule kinase inhibitors. This report includes a review of reported cases of Aspergillus infections in patients receiving ibrutinib and the shared features of these cases.