Risk Factors For Infective Endocarditis Research Articles

Infective Endocarditis in Childhood: a Single-Center Experience of 18 Years.

IntroductionWe aimed to present the risk factors, clinical and laboratory findings, treatment management, and risk factors for morbidity and mortality of infective endocarditis (IE) as well as to relate experiences at our center.MethodWe retrospectively analyzed data of 47 episodes in 45 patients diagnosed with definite/possible IE according to the modified Duke criteria between May 2000 and March 2018.ResultsThe mean age of all patients at the time of diagnosis was 7.6±4.7 years (range: 2.4 months to 16 years). The most common symptoms and findings were fever (89.3%), leukocytosis (80.8%), splenomegaly (70.2%), and a new heart murmur or changing of pre-existing murmur (68%). Streptococcus viridans (19.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (14.8%), and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (10.6%) were the most commonly isolated agents. IE-related complications developed in 27.6% of the patients and the mortality rate was 14.8%.ConclusionWe found that congenital heart disease remains a significant risk factor for IE. The highest risk groups included operated patients who had conduits in the pulmonary position and unoperated patients with a large ventricular septal defect. Surgical intervention was required in most of the patients. Mortality rate was high, especially in patients infected with S. aureus, although the time between the onset of the first symptom and diagnosis was short. Patients with fever and a high risk of IE should be carefully examined for IE, and evaluation in favor of IE until proven otherwise will be more accurate. In high-risk patients with prolonged fever, IE should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

701. Blood Stream Infection And Risk Of Endocarditis Following Cardiac Valve Repair: A Population-Based Study

BackgroundBloodstream infections (BSIs) confer an increased risk of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with a prosthetic cardiac valve. This relationship is less well established in patients undergoing valve repair. We conducted a retrospective population-based study to determine the incidence of BSIs following valve repair and identify risk factors associated with the development of IE.MethodsThe Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) data linkage system was used to identify all persons who underwent valve repair in a 7-county region in Southeastern Minnesota between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018. Medical records were screened for the development of a BSI from time of procedure until May 15, 2020. Patients were classified as having BSI only, BSI with IE at outset, or BSI with subsequent development of new IE. IE at outset was defined as cases where IE was diagnosed at the time of initial positive blood culture.ResultsA total of 387 patients underwent valve repair surgery. A total of 31 (8%) patients subsequently developed a BSI, 4% within one year of surgery. Seventeen patients underwent mitral repair with annuloplasty, 9 underwent tricuspid annuloplasty, and 5 had concurrent repairs. Median time to the development of BSI was 338 days. Of the 31 patients with BSI, 4 (13%) had BSI with IE at outset. No patients developed IE subsequent to BSI, Enterococcus spp. was responsible for 3 cases of IE, and MSSA for 1. All cases occurred within one year of surgery. Given the low incidence, statistical analysis of associated risk factors for IE was not feasible. All patients with BSI and IE at outset, however, died by the end of the study period, versus 11/27 in the BSI only group.ConclusionIncidence of BSIs was higher in patients undergoing cardiac valve repair than in the general population. The incidence of IE with a BSI was 13%, which is lower than what has been previously published. It is notable that all cases of IE occurred within one year of surgery. Recognizing that endothelialization of device surfaces occurs, it is tempting to speculate that the risk of IE may be time dependent and may decline over time. Subsequent investigation of this theory is underway.DisclosuresLarry M. Baddour, MD, Boston Scientific (Consultant)

Risk Factors and Patient Profile of Infective Endocarditis due to Gemella spp.

Background.The diagnosis of infective endocarditis is difficult, especially when it involves atypical organisms. Therefore, our study identified risk factors of infective endocarditis caused by rare pathogen, Gemella spp.Methods.A systematic review was conducted to investigate characteristics of endocarditis patients infected with Gemella spp. using the search term “Gemella” and “endocarditis.” Case reports were gathered by searching Medline/Pubmed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science databases. 83 articles were selected for review.Results.Five species of Gemella were identified. Typical patients were males between 31 and 45 years of age. On admission, patients had fever, tachycardia, and normal blood pressure. Common clinical manifestation other than fever included fatigue and weakness, chills and sweating, and nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and weight changes. One in four reported a history of congenital heart disease, and a recent oral cavity infection. Laboratory tests reveal anemia, leukocytosis, and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation in all age groups, elevated C-reactive protein is observed among adult and geriatric populations only. Mitral and aortic valves were most commonly infected by Gemella spp.. The most common Gemella spp.-susceptible antibiotics were penicillin, vancomycin, cephalosporin, macrolide, and aminoglycosides. However, antibiotic resistance was observed against penicillin, aminoglycoside, and fluoroquinolone. Antibiotic course of at least six weeks resulted in superior clinical improvements than durations under six weeks. Finally, one in two patients underwent valve replacement or repair, with common complications affecting the cardiovascular, neurological, and renal systems. Finally, death occurred in 1 in 8 patients, half of which occurred post-surgical procedure, and the majority occurring equal to or greater than 1 week from admission.Conclusion.Our systematic review highlights the importance of considering rare pathogens, particularly in the presence of predisposing risk factors.

The Gift of Double Mentoring

The Gift of Double Mentoring

Prevalence of infective endocarditis in streptococcal bloodstream infections is dependent on streptococcal species

Abstract Background Streptococci frequently cause infective endocarditis (IE), yet the prevalence of IE in patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by different streptococcal species is unknown. Purpose To investigate the prevalence of IE in BSIs with different streptococcal species. Methods We included all patients with streptococcal BSIs, from 2008 to 2017, in a population-based setup. Based on microbiological identification of phylogenetic relationship, streptococcal species were classified into eight main groups: Anginosus, Bovis, Mitis, Mutans, Salivarius, Pyogenic, S. pneumoniae, and “other streptococci”. Using nationwide registries, we determined the prevalence of IE at streptococcal group level and at species level. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, we investigated the risk of IE according to streptococcal species with S. pneumoniae as reference and adjusted for age, sex, ≥3 positive blood culture (BC) bottles, native valve disease, prosthetic valve, previous IE, and cardiac device. Results In 6,506 cases with streptococcal BSIs (mean age 68.1 years (SD 16.2), 52.8% men), the IE prevalence was 7.1% (95% CI: 6.5–7.8%). For the most common streptococcal species (>5% of BSIs), the IE prevalence was: S. pneumoniae 1.2% (95% CI: 0.8–1.6%), S. dysgalactiae 6.4% (95% CI: 4.9–8.2%), S. pyogenes 1.9% (95% CI: 0.9–3.3%), S. agalactiae 9.1% (95% CI: 6.6–12.1%), S. anginosus 4.8% (95% CI: 3.0–7.3%), and S. mitis/oralis 19.4% (95% CI: 15.6–23.5%) (Figure 1). For moderately common streptococcal species (1–5% of BSIs), the IE prevalence was: S. gallolyticus 30.2% (95% CI: 24.3–36.7%), S. salivarius 5.8% (95% CI: 2.9–10.1%), S. sanguinis 34.6% (95% CI: 26.6–43.3%), S. parasanguinis 10.3% (95% CI: 5.2–17.7), and S. gordonii 44.2% (95% CI: 34.0–54.8%). For uncommon streptococcal species (0.1–1% of BSIs), the highest IE prevalence was in S. mutans with 47.9% (95% CI: 33.3–62.8%). In a multivariable adjusted analysis using S. pneumoniae as a reference, we identified that all species except S. pyogenes were associated with a significantly higher IE risk (Figure 1). The highest associated IE risk was found in S. mutans (OR 81.3, 95% CI: 37.6–176), S. gordonii (OR 80.8, 95% CI: 43.9–149), S. sanguinis (OR 59.1, 95% CI: 32.6–107), S. gallolyticus (OR 31.0, 95% CI: 18.8–51.1), and S. mitis/oralis (OR 31.6, 95% CI: 19.8–50.5) (Figure 1). Conclusion The prevalence of IE in streptococcal BSIs is highly species dependent with the lowest IE prevalence observed in S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes BSIs, whereas S. mutans, S. gordonii, S. sanguinis, S. gallolyticus and S. mitis/oralis had the highest IE prevalence and the highest associated IE risk after adjusting for IE risk factors. Figure 1. Risk of IE in streptococcal BSIs Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Herlev-Gentofte University Hospital

Dialysis access as a source of infective endocarditis in dialysis patients

The incidence of Infective Endocarditis (IE) is higher in dialysis patients compared to the general population. A major risk factor for IE in this group stems from bacterial invasion during repeated vascular access. Previous studies have shown increased risk of bacteremia in patients with indwelling dialysis catheters compared to permanent vascular access. However, association between the development of IE and the type of dialysis access is unclear. We aimed to examine the associated types of intravascular access and route of infection in dialysis patients who were admitted with infective endocarditis at our center.All patients admitted to Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia with a diagnosis of infective endocarditis who were on chronic hemodialysis were identified from the hospital database for the period of 1/1/07 to 12/31/18. Modified Duke criteria was used to confirm the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. A total of 96 cases were identified. Of those, 57 patients had an indwelling dialysis catheter while the other 39 had permanent dialysis access. In 82% of patients with dialysis catheters, their dialysis access site was identified as the primary source of infection compared to 30% in those with permanent dialysis access (p<0.001). The number of dialysis catheters placed in the preceding 6 months was strongly associated with endocarditis resulting from the dialysis access site (OR = 3.202, p=0.025). Dialysis catheters are more likely to serve as the source of infection in dialysis patients developing IE compared to permanent dialysis access. Increased awareness of risk of IE associated with dialysis catheters is warranted.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of parents’ of children with congenital heart disease in a developing country

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common type of birth defects and remain the leading cause of death from congenital malformations. The knowledge of the parents of children with CHD; is important for the long term wellbeing of their children. In 2017 we have conducted study looking at the knowledge of the parents of children with CHD; about the disease, after that study we have implemented some measures to improve the knowledge of the parents and we wanted to see if there was any improvement in the parents knowledge. Objectives: To assess the parent’s knowledge regarding diagnosis and management of their children with CHD. Methods: This is a prospective questionnaire based study, conducted at the Paediatric Cardiology Outpatient clinic Ahmed Gasim cardiac Centre, over a six months period from June to November 2019. Results: The total study population was 120 parents of children with CHD. Of these children, females were 65 (54.2%) and males were 55 (45.8%). The most common age group was 1-5 years old, with 51 (42.5 %) children. 71 (59.2%) of the study population resided in urban areas. 103 (85.8%) of the responders were mothers. 32 (31.0%) mother and 11 (64.7%) fathers were &gt; 40 years old. 9 (52.9%) fathers and 37 (35.9%) mother were primary school graduate. 87 (84.5%) of the mothers were housewives, and10 (58.9%) fathers were unskilled workers. 66 (55%) and 54 (45%) of the parents were of moderate and low social class respectively. 14 (11.7%) children were known to have Down’s syndrome. 60 (50%) had previous cardiac surgery, 26 (21.7%) had previous cardiac catheterizations and 3 (2.5%) had documented episodes of infective endocarditis. The commonest Cardiac diagnoses were Ventricular Septal Defect 49 (40.8%), Atrial Septal defect 23 (19.2%) and Tetralogy of Fallot 18 (15%). 118 (98.3%) were attending the appointment visits regularly. 119 (99.2%) confirmed that the diagnosis of their children heart problem was explained to them. 84 (70%) reiterated their children heart problem correctly. 100 (83.3%) and 113 (94.2%) stated correctly the symptoms and risk factors of Infective Endocarditis (IE) respectively. 44 (36.7%) received information regarding the importance of oral hygiene, 102 (85%) were aware about need for antibiotics before dental procedures and 120 (100%) were aware about measures to maintain a good oral hygiene. The knowledge of parents was considered fair in 49 (40.8%), good in 46 (38.3%) and poor in 25 (20.8%). Conclusion: The knowledge of the parents of children with congenital heart disease was generally good, but there is a room for improvement. Simple measures like providing more information especially written is beneficial. The knowledge of the parents should be assessed and measures should be implemented to improve the knowledge of the parents, empowerment of the parents will improve the wellbeing of children with CHD.

How to prevent infective endocarditis in 2020? Practical issues.

The incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) continues to rise in many populations and is typically accompanied by a shift to healthcare‑associated staphylococcal species. Despite efforts with aggressive antibiotic therapy and increasing rates of surgical intervention, little progress has been made to reduce mortality. Disease prevention is therefore a crucial part of limiting its effects. Prevention should target each point in the pathogenic triad of IE: initiating bacteremia, adhesion to substrate, and proliferation of pathogenic species. Preventative strategies should focus on at‑risk patients undergoing high‑risk procedures, and these patients and procedures can now be identified by quantitative risk estimates. The attendant risk resulting from a procedure must then be placed in the perspective of the day‑to‑day risk, and the resulting balance can inform the benefit of prophylactic antibiotics. Implantable devices are a major risk factor for IE, and novel coatings and designs may be effective in risk reduction. Guidelines differ worldwide and a consensus has yet to be reached on who should receive pre‑ and periprocedural antibiotics.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes of infective endocarditis between haemodialysis and non-haemodialysis patients in China

ObjectiveTo clarify differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes between patients with infective endocarditis (IE) receiving long-term haemodialysis (HD group) and those not receiving haemodialysis (non-HD group).MethodsMedical records of patients with IE, admitted to hospital between January 2010 and December 2017, were retrospectively studied. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between HD and non-HD groups. Risk factors for IE were assessed by COX regression.ResultsTwenty-one HD and 143 non-HD patients were included. Predisposing heart conditions were more frequently observed in the non-HD versus HD group (90.9% versus 19.0%). Inappropriate antibiotic therapy rate before admission and proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus-associated IE was higher in the HD versus non-HD group. In the HD group, fewer patients underwent heart surgery (9.5% versus 51.7%), all-cause in-hospital mortality was higher (52.4% versus 21%), and survival rate was lower versus the non-HD group. COX regression analysis revealed that haemodialysis, use of central venous catheter (CVC) and inappropriate antibiotic therapy before admission increased IE mortality, while surgery improved long-term prognosis.ConclusionsHaemodialysis patients with IE may have higher mortality and lower survival rates than patients with IE not receiving haemodialysis. Haemodialysis, use of CVC and inappropriate antibiotic therapy before admission may increase IE mortality. Surgery may improve long-term prognosis.

Matched retrospective study of infective endocarditis among solid organ transplant recipients compared to non-transplant: Seven-year experience in a US Referral Center.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare complication following solid organ transplant (SOT); data on the clinical features and outcomes of IE in SOT recipients in the modern era are limited. We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of IE diagnosed from 1/2008-12/2014 in SOT recipients, who were matched by age and microorganism to cases of IE in non-SOT, to describe the clinical features and outcomes. There were 14 cases of IE identified in SOT recipients matched to 56 non-SOT controls. Median time from transplant to IE was 1017days (IQR 379-1830). Compared to non-SOT patients, SOT patients were more likely to be undergoing current hemodialysis (16% vs 36%) and to possess indwelling central venous catheters within the 30days prior to diagnosis of IE (27% vs 50%). No SOT patients had documented drug use as a risk factor for IE whereas 6 (11%) non-SOT did. Enterococcus was the most common etiologic agent and was isolated in 50% of cases; only one fungal infection was identified, a mixed infection with Candida. Thirty-day mortality was 14% in SOT patients, significantly higher versus no deaths in non-SOT (P=.037). The present study illustrates a change in epidemiology of IE in SOT patients characterized by IE that generally occurs more than one-year post-transplant, is due to bacterial infection rather than fungus, and appears to be health care associated. Multicenter studies are merited to explore transplant-specific risk factors for IE in the special population of SOT patients.

Prevalence of Infective Endocarditis in Streptococcal Bloodstream Infections Is Dependent on Streptococcal Species.

Streptococci frequently cause infective endocarditis (IE), yet the prevalence of IE in patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by different streptococcal species is unknown. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of IE at species level in patients with streptococcal BSIs. We investigated all patients with streptococcal BSIs, from 2008 to 2017, in the Capital Region of Denmark. Data were crosslinked with Danish nationwide registries for identification of concomitant hospitalization with IE. In a multivariable logistic regression analysis, we investigated the risk of IE according to streptococcal species adjusted for age, sex, ≥3 positive blood culture bottles, native valve disease, prosthetic valve, previous IE, and cardiac device. Among 6506 cases with streptococcal BSIs (mean age 68.1 years [SD 16.2], 52.8% men) the IE prevalence was 7.1% (95% CI, 6.5-7.8). The lowest IE prevalence was found with Streptococcus pneumoniae (S pneumoniae) 1.2% (0.8-1.6) and Spyogenes 1.9% (0.9-3.3). An intermediary IE prevalence was found with Sanginosus 4.8% (3.0-7.3), Ssalivarius 5.8% (2.9-10.1), and Sagalactiae 9.1% (6.6-12.1). The highest IE prevalence was found with Smitis/oralis 19.4% (15.6-23.5), Sgallolyticus (formerly Sbovis) 30.2% (24.3-36.7), Ssanguinis 34.6% (26.6-43.3), Sgordonii 44.2% (34.0-54.8), and Smutans 47.9% (33.3-62.8). In multivariable analysis using S pneumoniae as reference, all species except S pyogenes were associated with significantly higher IE risk, with the highest risk found with S gallolyticus odds ratio (OR) 31.0 (18.8-51.1), S mitis/oralis OR 31.6 (19.8-50.5), S sanguinis OR 59.1 (32.6-107), S gordonii OR 80.8 (43.9-149), and S mutans OR 81.3 (37.6-176). The prevalence of IE in streptococcal BSIs is species dependent with S mutans, S gordonii, S sanguinis, S gallolyticus, and S mitis/oralis having the highest IE prevalence and the highest associated IE risk after adjusting for IE risk factors.

Epidemiology and risk factors of infective endocarditis in a tertiary hospital in China from 2007 to 2016

BackgroundTo explore the trends in epidemiology and the risk factors related to the prognosis of infective endocarditis in a tertiary hospital over the past ten years.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was performed. A total of 407 consecutive patients who were admitted with infective endocarditis were included. The clinical characteristics and the risk factors related to the prognosis of infective endocarditis during this period were analyzed.ResultsA total of 407 patients with infective endocarditis were included, the average age was 48 ± 16 years old with an increasing trend and in-hospital mortality rate was 10.6% and one-year mortality rate was 11.3%. Among patients with underlying heart disease, congenital heart disease was the most common (25.8%), followed by rheumatic heart disease (17.0%) which showed a decreased trend during this period (P < 0.001). There were 222(54.5%) patients with positive blood cultures results and Streptococci (24.6%) was the main pathogens with an increasing trend. There were 403 patients (99%) with surgical indications, but only 235 patients (57.7%) received surgical treatment. Hemodialysis (P = 0.041, OR = 4.697, 95% CI 1.068–20.665), pulmonary hypertension (P = 0.001, OR = 5.308, 95% CI 2.034–13.852), Pitt score ≥ 4 (P < 0.001, OR = 28.594, 95% CI 5.561–148.173) and vegetation length>30 mm (P = 0.011, OR = 13.754, 95% CI 1.832–103.250) were independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality.ConclusionsThere were no significant changes in the overall incidence of infective endocarditis, but the clinical features of infective endocarditis had slightly changed during the past ten years. Streptococci infective endocarditis was still the predominant. Patients with hemodialysis, pulmonary hypertension, Pitt score ≥ 4 and vegetation length>30 mm had an worse in-hospital outcome.

Risk factors of infective endocarditis in persons who inject drugs

BackgroundThe rising incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) among people who inject drugs (PWID) has been a major concern across North America. The coincident rise in IE and change of drug preference to hydromorphone controlled-release (CR) among our PWID population in London, Ontario intrigued us to study the details of injection practices leading to IE, which have not been well characterized in literature.MethodsA case–control study, using one-on-one interviews to understand risk factors and injection practices associated with IE among PWID was conducted. Eligible participants included those who had injected drugs within the last 3 months, were > 18 years old and either never had or were currently admitted for an IE episode. Cases were recruited from the tertiary care centers and controls without IE were recruited from outpatient clinics and addiction clinics in London, Ontario.ResultsThirty three cases (PWID IE+) and 102 controls (PWID but IE-) were interviewed. Multivariable logistic regressions showed that the odds of having IE were 4.65 times higher among females (95% CI 1.85, 12.28; p = 0.001) and 5.76 times higher among PWID who did not use clean injection equipment from the provincial distribution networks (95% CI 2.37, 14.91; p < 0.001). Injecting into multiple sites and heating hydromorphone-CR prior to injection were not found to be significantly associated with IE. Hydromorphone-CR was the most commonly injected drug in both groups (90.9% cases; 81.4% controls; p = 0.197).DiscussionOur study highlights the importance of distributing clean injection materials for IE prevention. Furthermore, our study showcases that females are at higher risk of IE, which is contrary to the reported literature. Gender differences in injection techniques, which may place women at higher risk of IE, require further study. We suspect that the very high prevalence of hydromorphone-CR use made our sample size too small to identify a significant association between its use and IE, which has been established in the literature.

Clinical Significance of the Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score in Patients with Infective Endocarditis.

Risk stratification of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) is difficult. The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an index of immune function and nutritional status. We investigated the prognostic value of the CONUT score in IE and whether its prognostic value differed between IE patients with and without indications for surgery.Clinical records were retrospectively evaluated for 92 patients with IE treated at Nihon University Itabashi Hospital and Nihon University Hospital between January 2014 and May 2019. The CONUT score was determined upon admission, and patients were divided into two groups at the median score (≤ 7 [n = 50] and ≥ 8 [n = 42]). The primary outcome was all-cause mortality at 90 days after admission.The high CONUT group had significantly higher C-reactive protein and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels, as well as a significantly lower hemoglobin and estimated glomerular filtration rate (all P < 0.05), and considerably more valve perforation (26% versus 8%, P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that mortality was significantly higher in the high CONUT group (P < 0.001). Even after adjusting for the propensity score based on IE risk factors, a higher CONUT score was still associated with mortality. A receiver-operating characteristic analysis revealed that a CONUT score ≥ 8 had a sensitivity of 86% and specificity of 76% for predicting all-cause mortality. A CONUT score ≥ 8 was most strongly associated with mortality in patients with surgical indications (P < 0.001).In patients with IE, a higher CONUT score was significantly associated with inflammation, heart failure, renal dysfunction, anemia, valve dysfunction, and short-term mortality, especially in patients with surgical indications.

The influence of race in older adults with infective endocarditis

BackgroundAge is a risk factor for infective endocarditis, and almost half of diagnosed patients are age ≥ 60 years. Large national studies have not evaluated inpatient mortality and surgical valvular interventions between older White and Black patients hospitalized with infective endocarditis.MethodsWe used the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database to identify older adults ≥60 years in North America with a principle diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare in-hospital mortality and valvular repairs/replacement between older Black and White patients.ResultsOf 10,390 adults, age ≥ 60 years hospitalized for infective endocarditis during 2013 and 2014, 7356 were White and 1089 Black. Blacks were younger (mean age: 70.5 ± 0.5 vs. 73.5 ± 0.2 years, p < 0.01), lived in more zip codes with a median annual income <$39,000/yr. (40.4% vs 18.8%, p < 0.01), and had higher co-morbidity burden (Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 3: 54.6% vs 40.7%, p < 0.01). After multivariate adjustment, Blacks had higher odds for in-hospital mortality (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.0, [Confidence Interval (CI) 1.1–3.8]; p = 0.020), and lower odds for mitral valve repairs/replacements (OR = 0.53, CI: 0.29–0.99, p = 0.049).ConclusionsBlacks age ≥ 60 years hospitalized in North America with infective endocarditis are less likely to undergo mitral valvular repairs/replacement and had higher in-hospital mortality compared to White patients.

Abstract WP262: Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Infective Endocarditis

Introduction: Infective endocarditis (IE) is considered to be an absolute contraindication for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator treatment (IVtPA) in acute ischemic stroke. However during the hyperacute stroke evaluation, the exclusion of IE may be difficult. Methods: We reviewed consecutive patients hospitalized at our comprehensive stroke center from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2019 with acute ischemic stroke who received IVtPA and identified patients who were diagnosed with infective endocarditis. Data was abstracted on demographics, medical history, clinical presentation, last known normal (LKN) time, initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), neuroimaging, culture results, and 90 day modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Good functional outcome was defined as mRS ≤ 2. Results: Among 1022 acute ischemic stroke patients who received IVtPA, 5 patients (0.5%) were ultimately diagnosed with IE. Among the 5 patients with IE, the mean age was 53.4 years (range, 25-74) and 3 (60%) were female. The majority, 4 (80%) were white. Medical risk factors for IE were present in 3 (60%) and included intravenous drug use (1) and dialysis (2). Initial NIHSS was 4.6 (range, 1 to 8). Fever was present on initial presentation in only 1 patient (102.7 F). All patients met criteria for IVtPA and there were no protocol violations. The mean time from LKN to IVtPA was 3.0 hours (range, 1.9 to 4.4). Vascular imaging showed MCA occlusion in 4 (80%) and no occlusion in 1 (20%). One patient underwent endovascular thrombectomy with Thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scale 2A recanalization. Two patients (40%) developed hemorrhagic complications, including 1 patient who developed subarachnoid hemorrhage on Hospital Day #2 due to mycotic cerebral aneurysm. The blood culture results included MRSE (1), Streptococci viridans (2) and negative (2). TEE in all patients showed vegetations on the mitral valve. No patients had good functional outcome, and the mean 3 months mRS was 4.8 (range, 3 to 6). Conclusions: In a large series of acute ischemic stroke patients who received IVtPA, undiagnosed IE is rare (0.5%). Fever was not commonly present during initial evaluation. Despite affecting younger patients with initial mild deficits, patients with IE had poor functional outcomes.

P265 Infective endocarditis:think global, act local:changing trends in infective endocarditis-integrating antibiotic stewardship program: data from developing world

Abstract Despite improvements in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, both the incidence, severity &amp; mortality of Infective Endocarditis (IE) seem to be unchanged.The pattern of the disease in terms of host, agent &amp; environment changing rapidly.The successful integration of antibiotic stewardship program along with the appropriate use of antibiotic agents has made a huge difference in the treatment strategy &amp; cost reduction in patient care for IE. Materials &amp; Methods: A single centre, retrospective &amp; prospective study done between 2009 to 2018. The diagnosis of infective endocarditis was done as per the modified Duke’s Criteria. 355 patients were analysed and baseline demographic data with echocardiographic, microbiologic,complications, treatment &amp; outcomes noted. All blood cultures processing was done with BACTEC and BacTAlert using standard precautions.Antibiotic stewardship program was initiated since February 2016 as per international protocol. Results: The mean age of the study population was 46.7+-3 years. Predominanlty streptococcus species ( 21.4%) was isolated in the culture.A definite rise in atypical (17.9%) organism was noted in 2018 over the period of study as compared to 2009 : Presence of Burkholderia, Candida, Atypical Mycobacterium spp increased. Despite the advances in diagnostic modalities,there has been no change in mortality associated with IE (10.3%) over the period of 2009-2018. There is a predominantly native Mitral Valve involvement (53.7%) &amp; a definite rise in Prosthetic Valve endocarditis (19.6%) noted in the last 5 years. Conclusion:This study is the largest study &amp; data on Infective Endocarditis so far from a single centre in a developing world with a study population of 355 patients. Risk factors for IE have changed over time.Newer paradigms in treating IE and integration of antibiotic stewardship program has successfully brought down the cost and increased care in this part of the developing world. Changing trends : Organism Profile in IE Year Strept(%) Staph(%) Entero(%) Atypical(%) 2009 26.2 2.4 7.1 7.1 2011 24 8 12 16 2013 20 10 10 17.5 2015 27.3 12.7 3.6 20 2016 13.6 31.8 4.5 18.2 2017 27.6 13.8 10.3 34.5 2018 21.4 17.9 10.7 17.9 Abstract P265 Figure. Changing Epidemiological trends in IE

Risk for Endocarditis in Bacteremia With Streptococcus-Like Bacteria: A Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study.

BackgroundMany genera and species of Streptococcus-like bacteria (SLB) can cause infective endocarditis (IE), but little is known about the epidemiology of and the risk factors for IE in SLB-bacteremia. The aim of the study was to analyze this in a cohort of patients with SLB-bacteremia, focusing on Abiotrophia, Aerococcus, Gemella, and Granulicatella. We also evaluated whether published scoring systems generated for other Gram-positive bacteria known to cause IE (HANDOC for streptococci and NOVA and DENOVA for enterococci) could be used in SLB bacteremia to decide whether transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) could be omitted.MethodsPositive blood cultures with SLB were retrieved from population-based registries in Sweden (3.2 million inhabitants), from January 2012 to December 2017. Clinical data were collected from medical records. Risk factors for IE were analyzed and the performances of the scoring systems were calculated.ResultsThe incidence of bacteremia with the 4 SLB genera was 30 episodes/1 000 000 population per year, of which Aerococcus contributed with 18. Among 568 episodes of bacteremia, 32 cases of IE were identified (5.6%). Infective endocarditis was most common in bacteremia with Abiotrophia (4 of 19) followed by Granulicatella (9 of 124), Gemella (6 of 87), and Aerococcus (13 of 338). NOVA had 100% sensitivity to identify IE but a low specificity (15%). For HANDOC and DENOVA, the sensitivities were 97% and 91%, respectively, whereas specificities were 85% and 90%, respectively, and numbers needed to screen were 3.6 and 2.8, respectively.ConclusionsBacteremia with these SLB is relatively rare, and the decision whether TEE should be performed or not could be based on either HANDOC or DENOVA.

Awareness of oral health in adults with congenital heart disease.

Poor oral health is known to be a risk factor for infective endocarditis (IE) and acquired cardiovascular disease. Many patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for developing IE. Excellent oral health is deemed essential to prevent IE, a potentially life-threatening condition, and therefore is important in adults with congenital heart defects (ACHD). As data on oral heath in ACHD are scarce, the current study aims to assess the prevalence of caries among ACHD and the knowledge of patients about oral health as a risk factor for IE and cardiovascular disease. A cross-sectional study included ACHD who subsequently presented at the German Heart Center Munich. The participants completed a questionnaire assessing oral health and risk awareness. Additionally, as an indicator of caries prevalence, a dentist documented the DMFT index (sum of decayed, missing and filled teeth). The median age of the 112 participants was 31.5 (range, 18-77) years. Forty-three patients (38%) were unaware of a correlation between oral health and heart disease. Twelve participants (11%) did not know about poor oral health being a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Less than half of the surveyed patients knew the term endocarditis. An additional twelve patients (11%) reported caveats against dental treatment because of their CHD. In twenty-three patients (21%), caries was found at the dentine level. The mean DMFT index, representing caries prevalence, was 7.91 (±6.54). There was no correlation between the Bethesda criteria of CHD and the DMFT index (P=0.69). The DMFT index was higher in patients at high risk for IE (P<0.01). However, this difference in the caries score was mainly due to more extracted and filled teeth in the high-risk patients for IE, whereas the number of decayed teeth did not differ significantly (P=0.09). The awareness of the importance of optimized oral health in ACHD needs to be improved.

P1798Assessing attitudes and knowledge of infective endocarditis in adult survivors of congenital heart disease

Abstract Background Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) have an increased risk of infective endocarditis (IE), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This risk is further compounded by patient-related factors such as education and awareness of IE. The onus of patient education falls on both patient and physician, and is paramount to successful outcomes. Our study sought to evaluate patients' understanding of the risks, preventative measures and symptoms of IE, and to identify high-risk ACHD patients who would benefit from targeted education. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using a pre-tested questionnaire to assess knowledge of and attitudes towards IE. Patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary referral centre completed the questionnaires independently. Baseline demographics and clinical data were collected from electronic patient records. Results 132 questionnaires were completed (median age 38 years, 50% male). 106 patients (80%) had previous surgical or percutaneous interventions and 7 patients (5%) had suffered with infective endocarditis in the past. 37% were able to accurately define IE. Out of a range of symptoms, most patients chose temperature (47%) and tiredness (39%) as classical symptoms of IE, however none correctly identified all listed symptoms as potential signs of IE. The majority of patients knew tooth abscess (58%) and body piercings (50%) were risk factors for IE. A fifth of patients (20%) were failing to have annual dental check-ups. 22% thought that IE would only require a few days stay as an inpatient and only 20% of patients were aware of the requirement for prolonged antibiotic treatment and the majority (63%) were unaware of the potential need for open heart surgery. 1 in 4 patients could recall having received information regarding IE. A third of patients reported that they would have made lifestyle changes had they known that IE required prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment and could result in open heart surgery and death. Discussion Our study highlights key issues in the management of ACHD. Moving forward with the continuously growing population of patients we need to focus on the multi-disciplinary approach including specialist clinical nurses and increasing awareness online and through meetings and patient days as well as the importance of transition services as paediatric patients move across to adult specialists. General physcians will also encounter ACHD, therefore it is important to ensure awareness is widespread in the form online platforms and leaflets. We must also acknowledge the impact of guidelines and ensure there is still a significant focus on IE within them. To conclude, despite the significant morbidity and mortality associated with IE in ACHD, patient awareness of symptoms, risk factors and consequences is limited. Promotion of IE awareness is a cost-effective intervention, which can reduce the incidence and complications of IE.