Razi, Samrah

Abstract Background Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening infection often challenging to diagnose, particularly in culture-negative cases. Plasma microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) sequencing has shown potential for detecting pathogens in IE. However, its clinical utility, diagnostic impact, and limitations remain debated. This study evaluates its use in diagnosing and managing IE in a tertiary care setting. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study included adult patients (≥18 years) who underwent mcfDNA sequencing via the Karius test for suspected IE at Mayo Clinic Rochester between December 2019 and February 2024. Diagnostic classification followed the 2023 Duke–International Society of Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases criteria. Data on demographics, clinical features, routine microbiologic workup, and mcfDNA sequencing results were collected. Statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate diagnostic utility and treatment impact. Results Among 141 patients, 66 had a diagnosis of IE, with mcfDNA sequencing identifying pathogens in 60.6% of them, compared with 39.4% with routine workup. mcfDNA sequencing was the sole microbiologic test with positive results in 33.3% of patients, leading to antimicrobial adjustments in 50.0% of that group. Clinically insignificant mcfDNA sequence detection occurred in 28.6% of patients without a diagnosis of IE. Conclusions mcfDNA sequencing is a valuable adjunctive tool for diagnosing culture-negative IE and guiding antimicrobial therapy when clinical suspicion is high. However, its utility depends on appropriate clinical context, highlighting the need for careful test interpretation and further prospective studies to assess patient-centered outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Background. Surgical-site infections (SSIs) are common in liver transplant recipients. The optimal SSI antimicrobial prophylaxis agent and duration are not established. We aimed to explore risk factors for SSIs after transplant, with a particular interest in the impact of perioperative antibiotic regimen on the development of SSIs. Methods. Retrospective study of adults undergoing liver transplant across 3 transplant programs between January 1, 2020, and June 01, 2021. Results. Of 557 patients included in the study, 32 (5.7%) were infected or colonized with a multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) within 1 y before liver transplant. Narrow-spectrum SSI prophylaxis with ceftriaxone or cefazolin alone was administered in 488 of 577 patients (87.6%); the remaining 69 patients (12.4%) received broad-spectrum prophylaxis with vancomycin and aztreonam (n = 40), piperacillin–tazobactam (n = 11), carbapenems (n = 8), ceftriaxone and another antibiotic (n = 7), and others. Patients with pretransplant MDRO were more likely to receive broad-spectrum coverage than those without pretransplant MDROs (28.1% versus 11.4%, P = 0.005). SSIs were identified in 40 patients (7.2%); 25 (62.5%) were organ–space infections, 3 (7.5%) were deep incisional infections, and 12 (30.0%) were superficial incisional infections. The median time from liver transplant to SSIs was 14 d (interquartile range, 10–20.2). MDROs were identified in 12 SSIs (30%). Multivariable analysis revealed no significant association between antimicrobial spectrum and risk of SSIs (P = 0.5), whereas surgical leak (P<0.001) and reoperation (P = 0.017) were independently associated with increased risk of SSIs. SSIs were not significantly associated with composite risk of death or liver allograft failure. Conclusions. The spectrum of antimicrobial prophylaxis did not impact the development of SSIs in liver transplant recipients.

Abstract Background Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteremia requires weeks of IV antimicrobial therapy for treatment with antistaphylococcal penicillins (ASP) and first-generation cephalosporins being mainstays of therapy. While effective, use of these agents in the outpatient setting requires frequent dosing along with close toxicity monitoring through the duration of therapy. Ceftriaxone is an appealing alternative given daily dosing and tolerability, but efficacy in this setting remains uncertain. We sought to review outcomes of patients who received ceftriaxone versus an ASP and first-generation cephalosporins for definitive therapy of MSSA bacteremia. Methods Following IRB approval, we reviewed medical records of a retrospective adult cohort diagnosed with MSSA bacteremia treated with ceftriaxone, cefazolin, or an ASP between January 2018 and December 2019 at Mayo Clinic campuses. Treatment was defined as the antibiotic used in the outpatient setting. The primary outcome was 90-day treatment failure, defined as a composite of mortality and microbiologic relapse. Secondary outcomes were 30-day treatment failure and individual components of treatment failure. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to analyze for an association between ceftriaxone use and the primary outcome after adjusting for factors that may also impact outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves were compared utilizing a log-rank test for survival between groups. Results A total of 223 patients with the accompanying characteristics met study criteria (Table 1). Thirty-seven received ceftriaxone (16.5%) and 186 (83.4%) were treated with cefazolin or an ASP. Ninety and 30-day treatment failure were higher in those treated with ceftriaxone (27%, 8.1%) compared to cefazolin or an ASP (8.6%, 3.8%). Multivariable analysis for risk of 90-day treatment failure revealed a hazard ratio of 2.91 for ceftriaxone (Table 2) and a significant difference in event-free survival for those treated with ceftriaxone compared to cefazolin or an ASP (Figure 1). Conclusion Patients receiving definitive therapy with ceftriaxone for MSSA bacteremia experienced a higher rate of 90 and 30-day treatment failure and a lower rate of event-free survival as compared to those treated with cefazolin or an ASP. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.