Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background – Although percutaneous mitral valve repair is an attractive alternative treatment option for patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) at high surgical risk, residual MR is commonly observed after the procedure and little is known about its impact on outcomes after MitraClip therapy, expecially in patients with severe left ventricular (LV) impairment. Purpose – The aim of this prospective, observational study was to evaluate the impact of residual MR (MR ≤1+ vs. MR >1+) on long-term outcomes of mitral valve repair with the MitraClip System in high surgical risk patients presenting with moderate-to-severe or severe MR and with severe reduction of LV ejection fraction (EF). Methods – Patients enrolled in the prospective Getting Reduction of Mitral Insufficiency by Percutaneous Clip Implantation (GRASP) with functional MR and EF ≤30% who were eligible at almost five-year follow-up were included in the present analysis. The primary endpoint was death at 5-year follow-up. Also echocardiographic parameters at baseline and 5-year follow-up and rehospitalization rates were assessed. Results – A total of 139 patients were included: 92 (66.2%) with post-procedural residual MR ≤1+ and 47 (33.8%) with residual MR > 1+ (41 patients with residual MR 2+, 5 with residual MR 3+, 1 with residual MR 4+). Comparable clinical and echocardiographic baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups except for NYHA functional class IV and implanted pace-maker (more frequent in patients with residual MR >1+) and previous myocardial infarction (more frequent in patients with residual MR ≤1+). At 5-year follow-up, no significant differences were reported in the primary endpoint (49.6% in patients with residual MR ≤ 1+ vs. 65.3% in patients with residual MR > 1+, p 0.203) and in cardiac death (37.8% in patients with residual MR ≤ 1+ vs. 42.6% in patients with residual MR > 1+, p 0.921). Cox regression analysis identified residual MR > 1+ as an independent predictor of re-hospitalization (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28-0.92, p =0.026). At 5-year follow-up, a significant reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume was observed in patients with residual MR ≤ 1+. Conclusions – At 5-year follow no significant differences in survival emerged in patients with severe LV dysfunction undergoing MitraClip therapy regardless residual MR. Nevertheless residual MR > 1+ emerged as an indipendent predictor of re-hospitalization.
Pseudallescheria boydii pneumonia is rarely reported among immunocompetent patients.We report a case of a 62 year old white female with pseudallescheria boydii pneumonia. The patient was non-immunocompromised, had a history of mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection prior to presentation. After successful response to initial antitubercular therapy, the patient developed recurrent symptoms and bibasilar nodular infiltrates. Second line therapy for MAC failed to improve symptomatology. Pseudallescheria boydii pneumonia was diagnosed from a bronchoscopic biopsy. Treatment with voriconazole resolved her symptomatology and radiological infiltrates.This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion for superimposed fungal infections in patients who are refractory to medical treatment of bacterial pneumonitis such as MAC. Further diagnostic interventions are encouraged when insufficient clinical improvement is observed. Prompt initiation of an antifungal regimen is warranted.
Abstract Background Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide with prolonged half-life currently approved for treatment of bacterial skin and soft tissue infections. Off-label uses of dalbavancin include multiple Gram-positive infections requiring long-term antibiotics use. However, clinical data regarding Dalbavancin use in the real-world setting remains limited. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all adult inpatients who were administered ≥1 dose of Dalbavancin between November 2017 and March 2022. Results Forty-nine adults were identified. Dalbavancin was used to treat skin/soft tissue infections in 9 patients (18.8%). Off-label uses accommodated for the majority of patients, with diagnoses included: bloodstream infection (24, 50%), osteomyelitis (9,18.8%), native valve infective endocarditis (6,12.5%), native septic arthritis (6,12.5%), epidural abscess (4,8.3%), catheter-related bacteremia (3,6.3%) prosthetic joint infection (3,6.3%), and diabetic foot infection (1,2.1%). No patients with prosthetic valve infective endocarditis were identified. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common treated pathogen: MRSA (15, 35.7%), MSSA (17, 40.5%). Other pathogens included: Streptococcus (2,4.8%), Enterococcus (4,9.5%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (5,11.9%), other gram positive (4,9.5%), none (2,4.8%). Among patients who completed therapy, overall cure, and clinical response as assessed at day 42 was achieved in 29 (96.7%) of patients,1 patient (3.3%) had relapse due to noncompliance with antimicrobial suppressive regimen. Intravenous drug use was the most common cause among patients who did not complete treatment (10, 58.8%). Adverse events included mild elevation in liver function tests, which were reversible and were not definitively related to the treatment. No rashes or infusion related reaction were reported. There were no adverse events resulting in drug discontinuation. Conclusion Real-world, including off-label, use of Dalbavancin appears safe and is associated with favorable treatment responses. Therefore, it should be considered as an alternative treatment approach in certain patient population including at risk population that may otherwise discharge from the hospital with no antimicrobial treatment or suboptimal oral antibiotics. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) rarely presents with endobronchial nodules or pseudomembranes on bronchoscopy. We describe a case of invasive aspergillosis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), in which a fungal etiology was suspected after visualization of scattered, white endobronchial nodules.A 36-year-old-female with history of SLE developed cardiorespiratory shock. Bronchoscopy indicated the presence of endobronchial lesions, and serologic studies were consistent with IA. Given high index of suspicion for fungal disease in an immunocompromised host, empiric antifungals were discontinued and voriconazole initiation resulted in a successful therapy.This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion for fungal diseases, especially among critically ill hosts with endobronchial lesions, who develop rapid cardio-respiratory impairment. Failure to recognize endobronchial patterns of fungal infection may lead to treatment delay and adverse clinical outcomes.
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Candida species are common causes of disease ranging from superficial cutaneous and mucocutaneous infections to invasive infections such as candidemia and disseminated candidiasis. There are more than 150 species of Candida, but only 9 are frequent human pathogens. The most common isolate is Candida albicans (Figure 170.1); other encountered pathogens include Candida tropicalis (Figure 170.2), Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei (Figure 170.3), Candida kefyr, Candida lusitaniae, Candida dubliniensis, and Candida gulliermondii. Less commonly isolated species with medical significance include Candida lipolytica, Candida famata, Candida rugosa, Candida viswanathii, Candida haemulonii, Candida norvegensis, Candida catenulate, Candida ciferri, Candida intermedia, Candida utilis, Candida lambica, Candida pulcherrima, and Candida zeylanoides. Most species are commensal organisms, colonizing the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and vagina, and they become opportunistic pathogens only when the host has compromised immunologic or mechanical defenses or when there are changes in the host's normal flora, such as those triggered by broadspectrum antibiotic use.
ObjectivesLimited clinical experience exists regarding the management of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative organisms. We review three cases of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) complicating PJI.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of all patients at a tertiary care institution with CRKP complicating PJI between January 2007 and December 2010. Demographic data, procedures, organisms involved, length of stay, antibiotic treatments, and outcomes were collected. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on CRKP isolates, and the mechanism of resistance was ascertained by PCR.ResultsThis analysis demonstrated that: (1) the CRKP possessed blaKPC and were difficult to eradicate (persistent) in PJI; (2) multiple surgeries and antibiotic courses were undertaken and patients required a prolonged length of stay; (3) resistance to colistin and amikacin emerged on therapy; (4) the same strain of CRKP may be responsible for relapse of infection; (5) significant morbidity and mortality resulted.ConclusionsThese cases highlight the opportunistic and chronic nature of CRKP in PJIs and the need for aggressive medical and surgical treatment. Further investigations of the management of CRKP PJI and new drug therapies for infections due to MDR Gram-negative organisms are urgently needed.