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Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is the most feared complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is generally recommended for all patients with SAB; however, supporting data for this are limited. We previously developed a scoring system, "PREDICT," that quantifies the risk of IE and identifies patients who would most benefit most from undergoing TEE. The current prospective investigation aims to validate this score., Methods: We prospectively screened all consecutive adults (≥18 years) hospitalized with SAB at 3 Mayo Clinic sites between January 2015 and March 2017., Results: Of 220 patients screened, 199 with SAB met study criteria and were included in the investigation. Of them, 23 (11.6%) patients were diagnosed with definite IE within 12 weeks of initial presentation based on modified Duke's criteria. Using the previously derived PREDICT model, the day 1 score of ≥4 had a sensitivity of 30.4% and a specificity of 93.8%, whereas a day 5 score of ≤2 had a sensitivity and negative-predictive value of 100%. Additional factors including surgery or invasive procedure in the past 30 days, prosthetic heart valve, and higher number of positive blood culture bottles in the first set of cultures were associated with increased risk of IE independent of the day 5 risk score., Conclusions: We validated the previously developed PREDICT scoring tools for stratifying risk of IE, and the need for undergoing a TEE, among cases of SAB. We also identified other factors with predictive potential, although larger prospective studies are needed to further evaluate possible enhancements to the current scoring system., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Tenosynovitis is an uncommon manifestation of disseminated infection with Coccidioides fungal species. Most experts treat this infection with combined surgical debridement and antifungal medication. The aim of our study was to examine the outcomes of patients with coccidioidal tenosynovitis of the hand and wrist., Methods: We retrospectively searched for the records of patients with coccidioidal tenosynovitis of the hand and wrist at our institution. between 1987 and 2013. We also conducted a review of the literature from 1950 to 2014 to identify additional cases., Results: We identified 9 cases of coccidioidal tenosynovitis of the hand and wrist at our institution, along with 5 other cases found in a review of the literature. The relapse rate was high overall (50%) and was higher after discontinuation of antifungal therapy (71%) in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. Results of serologic testing were not predictive of relapse., Conclusions: A treatment strategy for coccidioidal tenosynovitis should focus on long-term administration of antifungal agents., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2015. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US.)

Background: Infection is a serious complication of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy. Published data regarding LVAD-associated infections (LVADIs) are limited by single-center experiences and use of nonstandardized definitions., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 247 patients who underwent continuous-flow LVAD implantation from January 2005 to December 2011 at Mayo Clinic campuses in Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida. LVADIs were defined using the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation criteria., Results: We identified 101 episodes of LVADI in 78 patients (32%) from this cohort. Mean age (± standard deviation [SD]) was 57±15 years. The majority (94%) underwent Heartmate II implantation, with 62% LVADs placed as destination therapy. The most common type of LVADIs were driveline infections (47%), followed by bloodstream infections (24% VAD related, and 22% non-VAD related). The most common causative pathogens included gram-positive cocci (45%), predominantly staphylococci, and nosocomial gram-negative bacilli (27%). Almost half (42%) of the patients were managed by chronic suppressive antimicrobial therapy. While 14% of the patients had intraoperative debridement, only 3 underwent complete LVAD removal. The average duration (±SD) of LVAD support was 1.5±1.0 years. At year 2 of follow-up, the cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality was estimated to be 43%., Conclusion: Clinical manifestations of LVADI vary on the basis of the type of infection and the causative pathogen. Mortality remained high despite combined medical and surgical intervention and chronic suppressive antimicrobial therapy. Based on clinical experiences, a management algorithm for LVADI is proposed to assist in the decision-making process.

Background: We examined the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, histopathology, management, and outcomes of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis, an uncommon manifestation of infection caused by the fungus Basidiobolus ranarum., Methods: In this retrospective observational cohort study, cases of gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis in the United States were identified by reviewing medical records from Mayo Clinic Hospital (Phoenix, AZ) and contacting local infectious diseases specialists, pathologists, gastroenterologists, the Arizona Department of Health Services, health departments of adjacent states, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A comprehensive literature review identified additional cases worldwide., Results: Of 44 patients (mean age, 37 years [range, 2-81 years]) with gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis, most were from the United States (19 patients [43%], of whom 17 [89%] were from Arizona) or Saudi Arabia (11 [25%]). Most (28 [64%]) were previously healthy. Common chronic medical conditions among 15 patients (34%) were diabetes mellitus (8 patients [18%]) and gastric disorders (7 [16%]). Common findings were abdominal pain (37 patients [84%]) and a palpable abdominal mass (19 [43%]). Intraabdominal malignancy was the leading provisional diagnosis (19 patients [43%]). The large bowel was involved in 36 (82%), the small intestine in 16 (36%), and the liver or gallbladder in 13 (30%). Characteristic histopathologic findings were observed in 43 (98%). Eight patients (18%) died. Combined surgical intervention and antifungal therapy was the preferred treatment., Conclusions: Gastrointestinal basidiobolomycosis is an emerging invasive fungal infection in desert regions of the US Southwest. Clinical findings mimic malignancy and inflammatory bowel disease. Surgical excision and prolonged antifungal therapy are associated with favorable outcomes.

Background: Coccidioidomycosis is a fungal infection of the desert southwestern United States. It may be self-limited or may require antifungal therapy. Currently used triazoles (eg, fluconazole and itraconazole) have largely supplanted amphotericin B, which is fraught with adverse effects. Limited case reports and small open-label trials show that voriconazole and posaconazole benefit patients with coccidioidomycosis refractory to first-line agents., Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients prescribed voriconazole or posaconazole for coccidioidomycosis at our institution between 1 January 2006 and 1 August 2010. Outcomes were assessed with both a retrospectively applied Mycosis Study Group score (ie, a composite score for symptoms, serology, and radiographic findings) and the documented impressions of treating medical practitioners., Results: Twenty-one patients who received voriconazole and 16 who received posaconazole met study criteria. After a median duration of 6 months of voriconazole treatment, 14 of 21 patients (67%) were improved in overall status, 5 were unchanged, and 2 were unresponsive to voriconazole. After a median of 17 months of posaconazole treatment, 12 of 16 patients (75%) showed improvement, 1 was unchanged, and 3 were unresponsive due to medication intolerance or relapsed infection., Conclusions: Voriconazole and posaconazole are reasonable but not infallible options for salvage treatment of refractory coccidioidomycosis. Prospective comparative trials are required to provide further insights into their efficacy and utility.