Mortality, morbidity, and cardiac surgery in Injection Drug Use (IDU)-associated versus non-IDU infective endocarditis: The need to expand substance use disorder treatment and harm reduction services.

BACKGROUND: The addiction crisis is widespread, and unsafe injection practices among people who inject drugs (PWID) can lead to infective endocarditis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of adult patients with definite or possible infective endocarditis admitted to a tertiary care center in Portland, Maine was performed over three-year period. Our primary objective was to examine differences in demographics, health characteristics, and health service utilization between injection drug use (IDU)-associated infective endocarditis and non-IDU infective endocarditis. The association between IDU and mortality, morbidity (defined as emergency department visits within 3 months of discharge), and cardiac surgery was examined. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. A subgroup descriptive analysis of PWID was also performed to better examine substance use disorder (SUD) characteristics, treatment with medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and health service utilization. RESULTS: One-hundred and seven patients were included in the study, of which 39.2% (n = 42) had IDU-associated infective endocarditis. PWID were more likely to be homeless, uninsured, and lack a primary care provider. PWID were notably younger and had less documented comorbidities, however had similar in-hospital mortality rates (10% vs. 14%, p = 0.30), ED visits (50% vs. 54%, p = 0.70) and cardiac surgery (33% vs. 26%, p = 0.42) compared to those with non-IDU infective endocarditis. Ninety-day mortality was less among PWID (19.0% vs. 36.9%, p = 0.05). IDU was not associated with morbidity (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.73, 95% CI 0.18-3.36), 90-day mortality (AOR 0.72, 95% CI 0.17-3.01), or cardiac surgery (AOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.69). Ninety-day mortality among PWID who received MOUD was lower (3% vs 15%, p = 0.45), as were ED visits (10% vs. 41%, p = 0.42) compared to those who did not receive MOUD. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight existing differences in health characteristics and social determinants of health in people with IDU-associated versus non-IDU infective endocarditis. PWID had less comorbidities and were significantly younger than those with non-IDU infective endocarditis and yet still had similar rates of cardiac surgery, ED visits, and in-hospital mortality. These findings emphasize the need to deliver comprehensive health services, particularly MOUD and other harm reduction services, to this marginalized population.

Clostridium difficile infection: a critical overview.

Clostridium difficile is a gram-positive, spore-forming, toxin-producing anaerobic bacillus identified as the causal agent of a variety of manifestations typically isolated to the colon, but in its severe form, it can lead to sepsis and death. C. difficile infection due to a toxin gene variant strain (BI/NAP1) has been identified at the center of outbreaks and has resulted in increased mortality. Many questions remain as to how this strain appeared so quickly and has harmed or killed so many patients. We present a review of C. difficile infection, discussing its clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, and prevention.

Hepatic capillariasis in Maine presenting as a hepatic mass.

We report the first case of hepatic capillariasis in Maine. The patient was a 54-year-old male carpenter who presented with a subacute history of severe abdominal pain, fevers, and weight loss. Initial diagnostic studies suggested a hepatic mass associated with para-aortic lymphadenopathy. The patient underwent open laparotomy for resection of the mass. He was found to have an eosinophilic granuloma in the liver; further evaluation revealed degenerating Capillaria hepatica. The exact route of infection in this case is unknown but is most likely due to accidental ingestion of soil contaminated with mature capillaria eggs. This patient had a low parasite burden and did not exhibit significant peripheral eosinophilia. After treatment with thiabendazole, he recovered uneventfully.