DeSimone, Daniel C.

AbstractIntroductionWe performed a cross‐sectional study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Wide‐Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) database to analyze the trends in cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection‐related mortality from 1999 to 2020.MethodsWe analyzed the death certificate data from the CDC WONDER database from 1999 to 2020 for CIED infections in the US population aged ≥25 years using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10) codes, listed as the underlying or contributing cause of death. Age‐adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed per 1 million population by standardizing crude mortality rates to the 2000 US census population. To assess annual mortality trends, we employed the Joinpoint regression model, calculating the annual percent change (APC) in AAMR and corresponding 95% CIs.ResultsOverall, there was an observed declining trend in AAMRs related to CIED infection‐related mortality. Males accounted for 55% of the total deaths, with persistently higher AAMRs compared to females over the study duration. Both males and females had an overall decreasing trend in AAMRs throughout the study duration. On race/ethnicity stratified analysis, non‐Hispanic (NH) Blacks exhibited the highest overall AAMR, followed by NH American Indians or Alaska Natives, NH Whites, Hispanic or Latinos, and NH Asian or Pacific Islanders. On a stratified analysis based on region, the South region had the highest overall AAMR, followed by the Midwest, West, and Northeast regions.ConclusionOur study demonstrates a significant decline in CIED infection‐related mortality in patients over the last two decades. Notable gender, racial/ethnic, and regional differences exist in the rates of mortality related to CIED infections.

Abstract Vascular graft infection (VGI) is one of the most serious complications following arterial reconstructive surgery. VGI has received increasing attention over the past decade, but many questions remain regarding its diagnosis and management. In this review, we describe our approach to VGI through multidisciplinary collaboration and discuss decision making for challenging presentations. This review will concentrate on VGI that impacts both aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms excluding the ascending thoracic aorta.

Abstract Vascular graft infection (VGI) is one of the most serious complications following arterial reconstructive surgery. VGI has received increasing attention over the past decade, but many questions remain regarding its diagnosis and management. In this review, we describe our approach to VGI through multidisciplinary collaboration and discuss decision-making for challenging presentations. This document will concentrate on VGI that impacts both aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms excluding the ascending thoracic aorta.

AbstractBackgroundGiven the challenges of conventional therapies in managing right‐sided infective endocarditis (RSIE), percutaneous mechanical aspiration (PMA) of vegetations has emerged as a novel treatment option. Data on trends, characteristics, and outcomes of PMA, however, have largely been limited to case reports and case series.Aims:The aim of the current investigation was to provide a descriptive analysis of PMA in the United States and to profile the frequency of PMA with a temporal analysis and the patient cohort.MethodsThe International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes were used to identify patients with RSIE in the national (nationwide) inpatient sample (NIS) database between 2016 and 2020. The clinical characteristics and temporal trends of RSIE hospitalizations in patients who underwent PMA was profiled.ResultsAn estimated 117,955 RSIE‐related hospital admissions in the United States over the 5‐year study period were estimated and 1675 of them included PMA. Remarkably, the rate of PMA for RSIE increased 4.7‐fold from 2016 (0.56%) to 2020 (2.62%). Patients identified with RSIE who had undergone PMA were young (medial age 36.5 years) and had few comorbid conditions (median Charlson Comorbidity Index, 0.6). Of note, 36.1% of patients had a history of hepatitis C infection, while only 9.9% of patients had a cardiovascular implantable electronic device. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant (61.8%) pathogen. Concomitant transvenous lead extraction and cardiac valve surgery during the PMA hospitalization were performed in 18.2% and 8.4% of admissions, respectively. The median hospital stay was 19.0 days, with 6.0% in‐hospital mortality.ConclusionsThe marked increase in the number of PMA procedures in the United States suggests that this novel treatment option has been embraced as a useful tool in select cases of RSIE. More work is needed to better define indications for the procedure and its efficacy and safety.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare, benign inflammatory disorder of the breast that is often underrecognized. The exact etiology and pathophysiology are unknown, but milk stasis is felt to play a role. Classically, this condition is noninfectious, but many cases are noted to be associated with Corynebacterium species. Most patients affected are parous women with a mean age of 35, and many have breastfed within five years of diagnosis. Patients typically present with a painful mass and symptoms of inflammation, and these features can sometimes mimic breast cancer. Biopsy is needed to make a definitive diagnosis, and noncaseating granulomas are found on core biopsy. Many patients have a waxing and waning course over a period of six months to two years. Goal of treatment is to avoid surgery given poor wound healing, high risk of recurrence, and poor cosmetic outcomes. Medical treatment is preferred and includes observation, antibiotics, steroids, and immune modulators such as methotrexate. In more recent years, topical and intralesional steroids have become the treatment of choice, with similar outcomes to oral steroids.

Introduction: The association of echocardiographic measurements and subsequent risk of left-sided native valve endocarditis (LS-NVE) is undefined. Aim: To determine if transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) measurements are associated with the subsequent development of LS-NVE in patients without recognized cardiac predisposing conditions. Methods: Institutional databases were evaluated for adults diagnosed with LS-NVE from 2008 to 2020. Patients with prosthetic valves, cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, intracardiac devices, injection drug use, and recognized predisposing cardiac conditions were excluded. Patients with a TTE performed 6 months to 3 years before developing LS-NVE were included as cases. Controls were patients within the same Mayo Clinic location with a TTE report and were matched in a 1:3 ratio according to age, gender, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and echocardiography date. Multivariate logistic-regression analyses adjusting significant variables between cohort's were performed. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were 148 cases and 431 matched controls. The median age was 63.8 (IQR: 53.6 - 74.6) years, and 329 (56.8%) patients were males. LS-NVE cases had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (46.6% vs. 30.4%) and chronic kidney disease (46.6% vs. 28.1%) when compared with controls (p<0.001 both). The median CCI score was 3 (IQR: 0-6) for cases and 2 (IQR: 0-6) for controls. After performing adjusted analyses, left ventricular outflow tract velocity (p=0.017), left ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.018), and E: e’ ratio (p=0.050) were associated with the development of LS-NVE ( Figure 1) . Conclusions: Echocardiographic measurements were associated with subsequent LS-NVE development in this preliminary investigation. A larger cohort of LS-NVE patients is needed to validate these findings.

Abstract Background Patent foramen ovale (PFO) can be identified in about 20-25% of the adult population and may result in variable degrees of left-to-right and right-to-left intracardiac shunting. The association between PFO and pyogenic brain abscess remains poorly understood. The current study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pyogenic brain abscess in patients with and without PFO. Methods All adults with pyogenic brain abscess seen at Mayo Clinic from 1/1/2009-12/31/2021 who underwent either transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) with agitated saline shunt (bubble) study were included. Results A total of 222 patients developed pyogenic brain abscess during the study period; 148 (66.7%) patients were excluded due to unknown PFO status. Among 74 remaining patients, PFO was detected in 30 (40.5%) patients; 25 by TEE and 5 by TTE with bubble study (Figure 1). The prevalence of cryptogenic brain abscess (unable to identify the source of abscess) was significantly higher in patients with PFO as compared to those without PFO (53.3% versus 18.2%, p=0.002). Patients with PFO had a larger abscess size (25 mm [IQR 15.8-37.5] versus 15.5 mm [IQR 10.0-28.0], p=0.038). However, multiple abscesses were more common in the group without PFO (43.2% versus 20.0%, p=0.038). Additionally, patients with PFO had less documented bloodstream infection. There were no differences between other clinical characteristics and one-year, all-cause mortality between two groups. Conclusion These findings provide critical insights into the likely association between PFO and cryptogenic brain abscess; additional investigation is warranted. Disclosures Larry M. Baddour, MD, Boston Scientific: Advisor/Consultant|Roivant Sciences: Advisor/Consultant

Abstract Background Shotgun and targeted metagenomic sequencing have been shown in separate studies to be potentially useful for culture-free pathogen identification in blood and/or plasma of patients with infective endocarditis (IE). However, the 2 approaches have not been directly compared. The aim of this study was to compare shotgun metagenomic sequencing with targeted metagenomic sequencing (tMGS) for organism identification in blood or plasma of patients with IE. Methods Patients with possible or definite IE were prospectively enrolled from October 2020 to July 2021. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was performed with the Karius test, which uses microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) sequencing to detect, identify, and quantitate DNA-based pathogens in plasma. tMGS was performed using a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the V1 to V3 regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Results were compared using the McNemar test of paired proportions. Results Samples from 34 patients were investigated. The Karius test was positive in 24/34 (71%), including 3/6 (50%) with blood culture–negative endocarditis (BCNE), which was not significantly different from the positivity rate of tMGS (P = .41). Results of the Karius test were concordant with tMGS in 75% of cases. The Karius test detected 2 cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among the 7 S. aureus detections, in accordance with results of phenotypic susceptibility testing. The combination of blood cultures, the Karius test, and tMGS found a potential causative pathogen in 33/34 (97%), including 5/6 with BCNE. Conclusions The Karius test and tMGS yielded comparable detection rates; however, beyond organism identification, the Karius test generated potentially useful antibiotic resistance data.

Abstract Background Limited research has focused on bloodstream infection (BSI) in patients with arterial grafts. This study aims to describe the incidence and outcomes of BSI after arterial aneurysm repair in a population-based cohort. Methods The expanded Rochester Epidemiology Project (e-REP) was used to analyze aneurysm repairs in adults (aged ≥18 years) residing in 8 counties in southern Minnesota from January 2010 to December 2020. Electronic records were reviewed for the first episode of BSI following aneurysm repair. BSI patients were assessed for vascular graft infection (VGI) and followed for all-cause mortality. Results During the study, 643 patients had 706 aneurysm repairs: 416 endovascular repairs (EVARs) and 290 open surgical repairs (OSRs). Forty-two patients developed BSI during follow-up. The 5-year cumulative incidence of BSI was 4.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.0%–6.4%), with rates of 4.0% (95% CI, 1.8%–6.2%) in the EVAR group and 5.8% (95% CI, 2.9%–8.6%) in the OSR group (P = .052). Thirty-nine (92.9%) BSI cases were monomicrobial, 33 of which were evaluated for VGI. VGI was diagnosed in 30.3% (10/33), accounting for 50.0% (8/16) of gram-positive BSI cases compared to 11.8% (2/17) of gram-negative BSI cases (P = .017). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year cumulative post-BSI all-cause mortality rates were 22.2% (95% CI, 8.3%–34.0%), 55.8% (95% CI, 32.1%–71.2%), and 76.8% (95% CI, 44.3%–90.3%), respectively. Conclusions The incidence of BSI following aneurysm repair was overall low. VGI was more common with gram-positive compared to gram-negative BSI. All-cause mortality following BSI was high, which may be attributed to advanced age and significant comorbidities in our cohort.