Bacteroides fragilis endocarditis: a case report and review of literature

Endocarditis due to Bacteroides fragilis is a rare disorder. This article describes a case of Bacteroides fragilis endocarditis associated with portal and superior mesenteric venous thrombosis in a patient without preexisting valvular heart disease and review the cases of endocarditis due to this anaerobic bacterium in medical literature since 1980

Influence of cardiopulmonary bypass on cefuroxime plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics in patients undergoing coronary surgery

The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on the plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime and to assess whether the cefuroxime dose regimen (a 1.5 g dose, followed by 750 mg every 6 h for 24 h) is adequate for cardiac surgery antibiotic prophylaxis. A prospective, controlled, observational study compared patients undergoing coronary surgery with CPB (CPB group, n = 10) or off-pump surgery (off-pump group, n = 9). After each cefuroxime dose, blood samples were sequentially collected and analysed using high-efficiency chromatography. For demographic data and pharmacokinetic parameters, the authors used Fisher's exact test for nominal variables and Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test for parametric and non-parametric variables, respectively. Plasma concentrations were compared using ANOVA, and the percentage of patients with a remaining plasma concentration of > 16 mg/l within 6 h after each bolus was quantified in tabular form. After each cefuroxime bolus was administered, both groups presented a significant decrease in plasma concentration over time (P < 0.001), without differences between the groups. The mean CPB time of 59.7 +/- 21.1 min did not change cefuroxime plasma concentrations or pharmacokinetics. The mean clearance +/- SD (ml/kg/min) and median elimination half-life (h) of the CPB group versus the off-pump group were 1.7 +/- 0.7 versus 1.6 +/- 0.6 (P = 0.67), respectively, and 2.2 versus 2.3 (P = 0.49), respectively. Up to 3 h following the first bolus of 1.5 g, but not after 6 h, all patients had plasma concentrations > 16 mg/l (CPB group = 20% and off-pump group = 44%). However, after all 750 mg boluses were administered, concentrations < 16 mg/dl were reached within 3 h. CPB does not influence cefuroxime plasma concentrations. The dosing regimen is adequate for the intraoperative period, but in the immediate postoperative period, it requires further review.Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil)Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Sao Paulo, Brazi

Evaluation of bacterial infections in organ transplantation

Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao PauloHospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paul

Analysis of the treatment protocol for sternotomy wound infection after cardiac surgery

INTRODUCTION: Surgical wound complications after sternotomy in cardiovascular procedures include small dehiscences, mediastinitis, and sternal osteomyelitis. Mediastinitis and sternal osteomyelitis are high-risk complications associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality, and recurrence. Treatment of the most severe cases involves prolonged hospitalization. Moreover, the long-term use of antibiotics during hospitalization and after discharge significantly increases the overall cost of treatment. A recent treatment option involves extensive surgical debridement of the surgical wound, treatment of the wound bed with negative pressure therapy, and closure of the wound with myocutaneous or fasciocutaneous flaps. The advantages of this strategy include improvement of the patient's quality of life, less manipulation and less discomfort for the patient, less burden on staff involved in care, lower rate of infection recurrence, and an overall reduction of treatment morbidity. METHODS: The objective of this study was to conduct a retrospective survey of patients with surgical wound complications who were treated according to a protocol developed and improved by the Heart Institute of the Clinic Hospital of the School of Medicine of the University of São Paulo (Instituto do Coração do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo-InCor/HC-FM-USP), and who underwent surgery by the same plastic surgeon. The epidemiological profiles and possible indicators of worse prognosis were determined from routine examinations performed on these patients. The medical records of patients treated at InCor/HC-FM-USP who presented with sternotomy infection in 2014 were assessed retrospectively. The analyzed variables included comorbidities, interval between surgical procedures, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, wound closure procedures, and treatment complications, among others. RESULTS: The data are predominantly descriptive and epidemiological. At least one comorbidity was present in 84% of cases. The mean number of surgical procedures per patient was 2.5, ranging from 1 to 7. The CRP levels decreased in 75% of patients after the first surgical procedure, and the mortality rate was 17%. CONCLUSION: The standardized method adopted significantly decreased the overall mortality and the rates of recurrence and readmission. Indicators of worse prognosis, including CRP levels and the leukogram, were identified at the time of diagnosis and initiation of the treatment protocol

Incremental value of B-type natriuretic peptide for early risk prediction of infective endocarditis

SummaryBackgroundEarly and accurate risk prediction is an unmet clinical need in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The aim of this study was to determine the value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels obtained on admission for the prediction of in-hospital death in IE patients.MethodsBetween 2009 and 2011, consecutive patients with IE diagnosed using the revised Duke criteria and admitted to the emergency department were evaluated prospectively. BNP levels were measured on admission. Death during hospitalization was the primary endpoint.ResultsAmong 104 consecutive patients with IE and with available BNP levels, 34 (32.7%) died in hospital. BNP levels were significantly higher in patients who died as compared to survivors (709.0 pg/ml vs. 177.5 pg/ml, p<0.001). The accuracy of BNP to predict death as quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.826 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.747–0.905). The value of BNP was additive to that provided by clinical, microbiological, and echocardiography assessment. On multivariate analysis, new heart failure (hazard ratio (HR) 2.02, 95% CI 1.15–3.57, p=0.015), sepsis (HR 2.10, 95% CI 1.25–3.55, p=0.005), Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis (HR 2.67, 95% CI 1.60–4.45, p<0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction ≤55% (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.00–2.65, p=0.047), and BNP (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.06, p<0.001) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.ConclusionAmong patients with IE, BNP levels obtained on admission provide incremental value for early and accurate risk prediction

Prophylaxis of fungal infections in transplant patients

We thank the Clinical Directors from the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade\ud de Medicina da USP for their support: Prof. Jose Otávio Costa Auler Junior, Prof. Tarcísio Eloi Pessoa de Barros Filho and Prof. Eloísa Bonf