Performance of Different Versions of Duke Criteria in Diagnosing Infective Endocarditis in Patients With Intracardiac Prosthetic Materials.

Background: Diagnosing infective endocarditis (IE) is a significant challenge. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of the 2015 and 2023 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the 2023 International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases (ISCVID) Duke clinical criteria in a cohort of patients with suspected IE and intracardiac prosthetic material.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at 2 Swiss University Hospitals (2014-2024).

Evaluating Blood Culture Parameters to Identify Patients at Low Risk of Infective Endocarditis Among Those With Bacteremia by Gram-positive Cocci.

Background: Identifying patients at low risk for infective endocarditis (IE) among those with bacteremia by Gram-positive cocci is critical to optimize cardiac imaging use. The aim was to assess the diagnostic performance of blood culture parameters in identifying patients at low risk for IE.

Methods: Adult patients with bacteremia due to , streptococci, or at the Lausanne University Hospital were included.

Should Microhematuria Be Incorporated into the 2023 Duke-International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases Minor Immunological Criteria?

: Microhematuria is common in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). The present study aims to assess whether the addition of microhematuria in the 2023 Duke-International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases (ISCVID) minor immunological criteria could enhance its diagnostic performance. : This retrospective study was conducted at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland (2014-2024).

Evaluation of Different Versions of the Duke Criteria for the Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis Among Patients With Enterococcal Bacteremia; a Multicenter Study.

Background: Enterococci are a common cause of infective endocarditis (IE). This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of the 2015 and 2023 Duke versions of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Duke criteria, as well as the 2023 Duke International Society of Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases (ISCVID) clinical criteria, for identifying IE among patients with enterococcal bacteremia.

Methods: We included adult retrospective patients with enterococcal bacteremia from 3 independent cohorts across 2 Swiss university hospitals between 2015 and 2024.

Update on prevention and antimicrobial prophylaxis of infective endocarditis.

The Swiss expert group published revised guidelines on the prevention and antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis in 2021. In this viewpoint article, the group reports on their experiences two years after implementing the new prevention concept, which included information flyers and antimicrobial prophylaxis cards. Challenges included communicating the concept and indications for antimicrobial prophylaxis to both high-risk patients and providers.

Outcome Predictors of Prosthetic Joint Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: prosthetic joint infections (CPJI) are serious complications, for which optimal surgical management and antifungal therapy remain unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at defining the outcome predictors of CPJI.

Methods: A systematic literature review was performed in PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science until July 2024.

Predictors of mortality of enterococcal bacteraemia and the role of source control interventions; a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To identify predictors of mortality among patients with enterococcal bacteraemia.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland and included adult patients with enterococcal bacteraemia from 2014 to 2023.

Results: During the study period, 768 enterococcal bacteraemia episodes were included.

Factors associated with persistent bacteraemia among patients with suspected infective endocarditis.

Purpose: To ascertain the predictors of persistent bacteraemia among patients with suspected infective endocarditis (IE) and those with IE.

Methods: Retrospective study.

Setting: This study conducted at a Swiss university hospital (2015-2023) included adult patients with bacteraemia and suspected IE.

Lung and gut microbiota profiling in intensive care unit patients: a prospective pilot study.

Background: The gut and lung microbiomes play crucial roles in host defense and mayserve as predictive markersfor clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. Despite this, the simultaneous dynamics of lung and gut microbiomes during critical illness remain unclear. This study aims to assess the longitudinal changes in lung and gut microbiota among mechanically ventilated ICU patients with and without infection and to identify microbial features predictive of clinical outcomes, including the development of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).

Sublethal systemic LPS in mice enables gut-luminal pathogens to bloom through oxygen species-mediated microbiota inhibition.

Endotoxin-driven systemic immune activation is a common hallmark across various clinical conditions. During acute critical illness, elevated plasma lipopolysaccharide triggers non-specific systemic immune activation. In addition, a compositional shift in the gut microbiota, including an increase in gut-luminal opportunistic pathogens, is observed.

Validation of the Proposed Definition for Complicated Coagulase-negative Staphylococcal Bacteremia.

Background: A new definition for complicated coagulase-negative staphylococcal (CoNS) bacteremia was recently proposed. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of mortality in patients with CoNS bacteremia and evaluate the proposed definition of complicated bacteremia.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland (2015-2023) and included adult patients with CoNS bacteremia.

Impact of rapid identification by MALDI-TOF MS from positive blood cultures in Enterococcus spp. bloodstream infections.

Purpose: Regarding bloodstream infections (BSI) Enterococcus spp. rank among the top five most common organisms. Due to enterococci intrinsic resistance, empiric antibiotic therapy is often inappropriate and early identification becomes crucial.

Comparison of the 2023 ISCVID and ESC Duke clinical criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis among patients with positive blood cultures for new typical microorganisms.

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of the Duke clinical criteria of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC; 2015 and 2023 versions) and the 2023 International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases (ISCVID) in diagnosing infective endocarditis (IE) among patients with bacteraemia/candidaemia by pathogens introduced for the first time as typical microorganisms by ISCVID.

Methods: Retrospective study.

Setting: This study included adult patients with bacteraemia/candidaemia by such pathogens (coagulase negative staphylococci, Abiotrophia spp.

Individualization of piperacillin dosage based on therapeutic drug monitoring with or without model-informed precision dosing: a scenario analysis.

Background: Model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) combines population pharmacokinetic knowledge with therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to optimize dosage adjustment. It could improve target concentration attainment over empirical TDM, still widely practised for broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Objectives: To evaluate the respective performance of TDM and MIPD in achieving target piperacillin exposure.

Role of the New Physical Examination Minor Criterion (New Heart Murmur) for the Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis.

Among 3127 episodes of suspected infective endocarditis, the 2023 Duke-International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases clinical criteria showed an accuracy of 90% for infective endocarditis diagnosis. A new heart murmur was present in 690 (22%) episodes. Excluding imaging and surgical findings decreased the accuracy to 73%, while using the physical examination criterion slightly improved the accuracy to 78%.

Antibacterial and antifungal drug concentrations in intra-abdominal abscesses: a prospective clinical study.

Secondary peritonitis with intra-abdominal abscesses (IAA) is difficult to treat because of the supposed low rate of penetration of antimicrobial drugs at the site of infection. However, clinical data about the actual bioavailability of antimicrobial drugs in IAA are scarce. This prospective observational study aimed at assessing the drug penetration in IAA of the antibiotics (piperacillin-tazobactam, carbapenems) and antifungals (fluconazole, echinocandins) that are usually recommended for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections.

Predictors of Persistent Fever Among Patients With Suspected Infective Endocarditis: Think Outside the box.

Background: Fever is common in infective endocarditis (IE), yet little is known about fever duration in such patients. We aim to identify predictors of persistent fever in patients with suspected IE.

Methods: This study was conducted at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, from January 2014 to June 2023.

Duration of antimicrobial treatment for uncomplicated streptococcal bacteraemia: Another example of shorter is better.

Objectives: Duration of treatment for uncomplicated streptococcal bacteraemia is unknown. The study aims to assess clinical outcomes of patients with uncomplicated streptococcal bacteraemia receiving a short course (5-10 days) of antimicrobial treatment compared to those receiving the traditional, longer duration (11-18 days).

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland and included episodes of uncomplicated streptococcal bacteraemia among adult patients from 2015 to 2023.

Impact of multidisciplinary Endocarditis Team on management of infective endocarditis.

Infective Endocarditis (IE) is a complex, life-threatening disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the Endocarditis-Team on management of IE. This observational study conducted at a university hospital (2015‒22), included adult patients with IE.

Predictors of mortality of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia and the role of infectious diseases consultation and source control; a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To determine predictors of mortality among patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia.

Methods: Retrospective study.

Setting: This study conducted at the Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland included adult patients with P.

Evaluation of the HANDOC Score and the 2023 International Society of Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases and European Society of Cardiology Duke Clinical Criteria for the Diagnosis of Infective Endocarditis Among Patients With Streptococcal Bacteremia.

Background: Streptococci are a common cause of infective endocarditis (IE). We aimed to evaluate the performance of the HANDOC score to identify patients at high risk for IE and the Duke clinical criteria of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC; 2015 and 2023 versions) and the 2023 version from the International Society of Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases (ISCVID) in diagnosing IE among patients with streptococcal bacteremia.

Methods: This retrospective study included adult patients with streptococcal bacteremia hospitalized at Lausanne University Hospital.