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To assess long-term outcomes and predictors of mortality in patients treated according to current recommendations for cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection.Two-group matched cohort study.Tertiary-care institution.Consecutive patients admitted for CIED infection between 2004 and 2008 were prospectively enrolled. Study subjects were matched to a cohort of uninfected CIED patients by age, sex and type of device.In all infected patients, the therapeutic approach consisted of complete hardware removal whenever possible, antimicrobial therapy, and implantation of a new device, if indicated. Patients were systematically followed, with standardised outcomes assessment.All-cause mortality and predictors of long-term mortality.197 patients were included and matched 1:1 to controls. Pocket infections were present in 41.1% and definite or suspected infective endocarditis in 58.9%. Total or subtotal hardware removal was achieved in 98.5% of cases. Median follow up was 25 months (12-70). Mortality rates in the study group and controls were 14.3% vs 11.0% (NS) at 1 year and 35.4% vs 27.0% (p=NS) at 5 years. Independent predictors of long-term mortality were older age (HR=1.09, p0.001), cardiac resynchronisation therapy (HR=3.70, p=0.001), thrombocytopenia (HR=5.10, p=0.003) and renal insufficiency (HR=2.66, p=0.006). In patients with reimplanted devices, epicardial right ventricular pacemakers were associated with higher mortality (HR=2.85, p=0.034).In patients with CIED infection managed by recommended therapy, long-term mortality rates are similar to comparable controls. Independent predictors include patient and disease-related factors, in addition to implantation of right ventricular epicardial pacemakers.

To analyse characteristics and outcomes of infective endocarditis (IE) on bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) and to compare the risk of death according to the presence or absence of BAV.5-year observational study.Population of 856 patients with definite IE according to the Duke criteria from two tertiary centres (Amiens and Marseille, France).310 consecutive patients with definite native aortic valve IE enrolled between 1991 and 2007.Patients underwent transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography during hospitalisation. Surgery was performed on a case-by-case basis according to conventional guidelines.In-hospital mortality and 5-year overall mortality.Patients with BAV IE (n=50, 16%) were younger, had fewer comorbidities and a higher frequency of aortic perivalvular abscess (50%). Presence of BAV (OR 3.79 (1.97-7.28); p0.001) was independently predictive of abscess formation. Early surgery was performed in 36 BAV patients (72%) with a peri-operative mortality of 8.3%, comparable to that of patients with tricuspid aortic valve IE (p=0.89). BAV was not independently predictive of in-hospital mortality (OR 0.89 (0.28-2.85); p=0.84) or 5-year survival (HR 0.71 (0.37-1.36); p=0.30). Age, comorbidities, heart failure, Staphylococcus aureus and uncontrolled infection were associated with increased 5-year mortality in BAV patients.BAV is frequent in adults with native aortic valve IE. Patients with BAV IE incur high risk of abscess formation and require early surgery in almost three-quarters of cases. IE is a severe complication in the setting of BAV and warrants prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Context Early prosthetic valve endocarditis is a deadly disease and blood cultures remain negative in 14-30% of cases. Objectives To analyse the clinical and microbiological profile of patients with blood culture-negative (BCN) early prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) in order to define the most appropriate empiric treatment. Design, Setting and Participants From June 2001 to February 2009, a prospective multimodal strategy incorporating serological, molecular and histopathological assays was performed in all the samples referred to the laboratory for a suspicion of blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) from France and abroad (n=718). A total of 31 patients with BCN early PVE was identified. Their microbiological profile was compared with that of 22 patients with blood culture-positive (BCP) early PVE and 628 patients with community-acquired BCNE identified during the same period. Results A pathogen was identified in 10 patients (32%) with BCN early PVE. Fungi were the most common pathogens identified, being found in 16% versus 4.5% in the case of PBC early PVE and 0.5% in community-acquired BCNE (p

Objectives: To identify the prognostic markers of a bad outcome in a large population of 104 patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE), and to study the influence of medical versus surgical strategy on outcome in PVE and thus to identify patients for whom surgery may be beneficial. Design: Multicentre study. Methods and results: Among 104 patients, 22 (21%) died in hospital. Factors associated with in-hospital death were severe co-morbidity (6% of survivors v 41% of those who died, p = 0.05), renal failure (28% v 45%, p = 0.05), moderate to severe regurgitation (22% v 54%, p = 0.006), staphylococcal infection (16% v 54%, p = 0.001), severe heart failure (22% v 64%, p = 0.001), and occurrence of any complication (60% v 90%, p = 0.05). By multivariate analysis, severe heart failure (odds ratio 5.5) and Staphylococcus aureus infection (odds ratio 6.1) were the only independent predictors of in-hospital death. Among 82 in-hospital survivors, 21 (26%) died during a 32 month follow up. A Cox proportional hazards model identified early PVE, co-morbidity, severe heart failure, staphylococcus infection, and new prosthetic dehiscence as independent predictors of long term mortality. Mortality was not significantly different between surgical and non-surgical patients (17% v 25%, respectively, not significant). However, both in-hospital and long term mortality were reduced by a surgical approach in high risk subgroups of patients with staphylococcal PVE and complicated PVE. Conclusions: Firstly, PVE not only carries a high in-hospital mortality risk but also is associated with high long term mortality and needs close follow up after the initial episode. Secondly, congestive heart failure, early PVE, staphylococcal infection, and complicated PVE are associated with a bad outcome. Thirdly, subgroups of patients could be identified for whom surgery is associated with a better outcome: patients with staphylococcal and complicated PVE. Early surgery is strongly recommended for these patients.