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Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2019 Mar 30;19(5):23. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Neurology Service, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this narrative review and update is to summarize the current knowledge and provide recent advances on the neurologic complications of infective endocarditis.

Recent Findings: Neurological complications occur in about one-fourth of patients with infective endocarditis. Brain MRI represents a major tool for the identification of asymptomatic lesions, which occur in most of the patients with infective endocarditis. Read More

Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) 2019 Apr 23;68(2):87-93. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Service de cardiologie B, centre hosipitalier universitaire Ibn Sina, Rabat, Maroc.

Infective endocarditis is a grave disease because of a high level of morbidity and mortality. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 100 patients hospitalized for infective endocarditis from January 2009 until December 2015. The mean age was 41 years with a male predominance. Read More

Quant Imaging Med Surg 2018 Nov;8(10):1039-1051

Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China.

Cerebrovascular complications may occur in infectious diseases in the setting of infective endocarditis, central nervous system (CNS) infections, systemic bacteremia and sepsis. Cerebrovascular complications of infections include vasculitis, mycotic aneurysms, and thrombophlebitis. Infectious vasculitis of the CNS may cause cerebral hemorrhage, infarction or ischemia. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2018 27;30:184. Epub 2018 Jun 27.

Service de Gynécologie-Obstétrique, Hôpital Militaire d'Instruction, Rabat, Maroc.

The diagnosis of splenic infarction is rarely reported in pregnant women. Current incidence of splenic infarction, especially during infectious endocardites as well as diagnostic methods used are poorly specified in the literature. We here report the case of a 26-year old woman with no particular previous history or cardiovascular risk factor who, at the end 14 weeks of amenorrhea, presented to the Emergency Department with febrile syndrome evolving over 10 days and abdominal pain of recent onset at the level of the left hypochondre. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 14;122:429-432. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Neurosurgery, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan.

Background: Distal middle cerebral artery aneurysm (DMCAAn) is rare, and the clinical features and the etiology are not well understood. Segmental artery mediolysis (SAM) is a pathologic entity that affects the media of the muscular artery and can cause arterial dissection and a hemorrhagic event. Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) due to SAM in the vertebral artery has been documented. Read More

Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris) 2019 Apr 6;68(2):94-97. Epub 2018 Oct 6.

Faculté de médecine, Oran, Algérie.

Introduction: Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a serious disease that has continued to evolve in diagnostic and therapeutic terms.

Aim: To analyze the diagnostic and out come profile.

Methods: We collected 57 (IE) cases with a definite diagnosis according to the modified Duke criteria. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Sep 10;2018. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Department of Internal Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, 16150, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

We present an interesting case of late-onset intracranial bleeding (ICB) as a complication of causing infective endocarditis. A previously healthy young woman was diagnosed with infective endocarditis. While she was already on treatment for 2 weeks, she had developed seizures with a localising neurological sign. Read More

World Neurosurg 2018 Oct 17;118:e813-e817. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address:

Introduction: Infectious intracranial aneurysms (IIAs) are a rare but potentially devastating complication of infective endocarditis. The clinical and radiographic findings that predispose patients to IIA remain poorly understood.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of consecutive endocarditis patients undergoing catheter-based angiography at a single tertiary-level academic center during the period of July 2013-December 2017. Read More

Cureus 2018 Apr 12;10(4):e2469. Epub 2018 Apr 12.

Division of Cardiology, Brooklyn Hospital Center/Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, USA.

Infective endocarditis (IE) secondary to Staphylococcus lugdunensis has been increasingly recognized since 1988. IE-related thromboembolism represents an associated complication of the disease and carries a dismal prognosis. However, the incidence of cerebrovascular accident secondary to S. Read More

Can J Cardiol 2018 06 31;34(6):759-765. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: Although the Ross procedure offers potential benefits in young adults, technical complexity represents a significant limitation. Therefore, the safety of expanding its use in more complex settings is uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare early outcomes of standard isolated Ross procedures vs expanding elgibility to higher-risk clinical settings. Read More

Eur Spine J 2018 06 17;27(Suppl 2):229-236. Epub 2018 Apr 17.

Department of Infectious Diseases, "A. Gemelli" University Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, 00168, Rome, Italy.

Purpose: Pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) is a potentially life-threatening infection burdened by high morbidity rates. Despite the rising incidence, the proper management of PS is still controversial. Aim of this study was to describe the clinical features of PS and to evaluate the prognostic factors and the long-term outcomes of a large population of patients. Read More

Braz J Cardiovasc Surg 2018 Jan-Feb;33(1):54-58

Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, İzmir, Turkey.

Introduction: Fungal endocarditis is reported less frequently than bacterial endocarditis, with an incidence of 0-12% of the total pediatric infective endocarditis.

Objective: In this study, the incidence of infective endocarditis in Candida bloodstream infections in a tertiary hospital during the periods of 2007 and 2016 was reviewed.

Methods: Patients with positive blood or catheter cultures in terms of Candida spp. Read More

Eur J Neurol 2018 07 4;25(7):970-975. Epub 2018 May 4.

Cerebrovascular Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Background And Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features such as cerebral microbleeds and sulcal susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) or gradient-echo T2* lesions in infective endocarditis (IE) have been associated with the presence of infectious intracranial aneurysm (IIA). Our aim was to validate these MRI predictors for IIA in order to better assist in assessing the appropriate indications for digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Methods: The derivation cohort comprised IE patients with neurological evaluation, MRI and DSA at a single tertiary referral center from January 2015 to July 2016. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2018 Mar 6;37(3):545-553. Epub 2018 Jan 6.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.

The optimal timing of cardiac surgery remains unclear for patients with neurological complications of infective endocarditis (IE). However, neuroimaging findings may allow more refined clinical decision-making. We analyzed clinical and advanced neuroimaging data for 135 patients with IE who had preoperatively diagnosed ischemic cerebral complications (86 patients) or hemorrhagic complications (49 patients), between January 1997 and May 2013. Read More

Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2017 Dec;49(6):1081-1086

Department of Neurology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.

The patient, a 43-year-old man, had paroxysmal headache three months ago, and he had complained the left occipital sharp pain, which could be alleviated by itself, with alalia and the right side of the upper limb numbness. Head computed tomography (CT) revealed a left temporal lobe intraparenchymal hemorrhage with the left side of the subarachnoid hemorrhage in small quantities. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed a suspicious aneurysm on the left internal carotid artery siphon. Read More

PLoS One 2017 5;12(12):e0188470. Epub 2017 Dec 5.

Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Tours, Hôpital Bretonneau, Tours, France.

Background: The incidence of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) has increased over the past two decades. One possible cause of this increase is the aging of the population, which results in more comorbidities in high income countries.

Objective: To better characterize the clinical presentation and outcome of PVO in the elderly. Read More

Shock 2018 05;49(5):536-542

University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljevic," Zagreb, Croatia.

Background: Sepsis and septic shock are common presentations of infective endocarditis (IE), but little is known about clinical characteristics in this group of patients, use of surgical treatment, and their associations with outcome. We sought to determine the influence of cardiac surgery (CS) on the outcome of patients with IE in different stages of sepsis severity.

Methods: Two hundred ninety four patients with definite IE native or prosthetic valve IE admitted between 2000 and 2011. Read More

Cerebrovasc Dis 2017 19;44(3-4):210-216. Epub 2017 Aug 19.

Cerebrovascular Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Background: Infectious intracranial aneurysm (IIA) can complicate infective endocarditis (IE). We aimed to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics of IIA.

Methods: We reviewed IIAs among 116 consecutive patients with active IE by conducting a neurological evaluation at a single tertiary referral center from January 2015 to July 2016. Read More

Interv Neurol 2017 Mar 21;6(1-2):82-89. Epub 2017 Jan 21.

Cerebrovascular Center of the Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.

Introduction: Mycotic aneurysms are a serious complication of infective endocarditis with increased risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Patients undergoing open heart surgery for valve repair or replacement are exposed to anticoagulants, increasing the risk of aneurysm bleeding. These patients may require endovascular or surgical aneurysm treatment prior to heart surgery, but data on this approach are scarce. Read More

Neurochirurgie 2017 Mar 7;63(1):17-20. Epub 2017 Mar 7.

Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, 1345, Govan Road, G51 4TF Glasgow, United Kingdom.

Intracranial infectious aneurysm (IIA) is a rare form of cerebrovascular malformation for which obliteration may be undertaken after rupture or non-response to targeted antibiotic therapy. We discuss the case of a 19-year-old man who presented with acute neurologic decline (Glasgow Coma Scale of 8) and endocarditis. CT images demonstrated subarachnoid haemorrhage, hydrocephalus and a mycotic aneurysm on the left posterior cerebral artery. Read More

Nephrology (Carlton) 2017 Apr;22(4):322-325

Division of Nephrology and Endocrinology, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a clinical and radiological condition with diverse neurological manifestations. Many clinical factors are known causes of PRES, but only a few cases of PRES have been reported in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and infectious disease. We describe three cases of PRES in patients with CKD triggered by various infectious diseases. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2017 May 10;39:95-98. Epub 2017 Feb 10.

Department of Neurological Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, United States. Electronic address:

Background: Infectious intracranial aneurysms (IIAs) are rare entities and are often associated with septic embolus from infectious endocarditis. They may develop rapidly and carry a higher risk of rupture and mortality compared to noninfectious aneurysms. However, the development and rupture of an IIA within 48h in a patient with septic infarction patient is exceedingly rare. Read More

Pract Neurol 2017 Jan 3;17(1):28-34. Epub 2017 Jan 3.

Department of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK

Sir William Osler meticulously described the clinical manifestations of infective endocarditis in 1885, concluding that: 'few diseases present greater difficulties in the way of diagnosis … which in many cases are practically insurmountable'. Even with modern investigation techniques, diagnosing infective endocarditis can be hugely challenging, yet is critically important in patients presenting with stroke (both cerebral infarction and intracranial haemorrhage), its commonest neurological complication. In ischaemic stroke, intravenous thrombolysis carries an unacceptably high risk of intracranial haemorrhage, while in intracerebral haemorrhage, mycotic aneurysms require urgent treatment to avoid rebleeding, and in all cases, prompt treatment with antibiotics and valve surgery may be life-saving. Read More

Cerebrovasc Dis 2017 22;43(1-2):59-67. Epub 2016 Nov 22.

Department of Radiology, Yale University and Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn., USA.

Objective: Patients with infective endocarditis (IE) frequently experience cerebral insults, and neurological involvement in IE has been reported to herald a worse prognosis. In this manuscript, we describe a distinctive pattern of findings on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequences in subjects with IE.

Methods: Patients with IE who underwent SWI MRI at an academic hospital from 2009 to 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. Read More

Circulation 2016 Oct;134(17):1280-1292

From Division of Cardiac Surgery (B.Y., D.L., S.V.) and Division of Neurology (G.S.), St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada; Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Heart and Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH (G.B.P.); Aix-Marseille Université and Cardiology Department, APHM, La Timone Hospital, Marseille, France (G.H.); and Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, ON, Canada (M.R.).

There has been an overall improvement in surgical mortality for patients with infective endocarditis (IE), presumably because of improved diagnosis and management, centered around a more aggressive early surgical approach. Surgery is currently performed in approximately half of all cases of IE. Improved survival in surgery-treated patients is correlated with a reduction in heart failure and the prevention of embolic sequelae. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2016 Dec 6;35(12):2053-2058. Epub 2016 Sep 6.

Public Health Department, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble, France.

In infective endocarditis (IE), brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is helpful to diagnose clinically silent neurological events. We assessed the usefulness of systematic early brain MRI in IE diagnosis and medico-surgical management. Over a period of 1 year, all patients admitted in one of the three hospitals participating in and fulfilling the Duke criteria for definite or possible IE underwent cerebral MRI within 7 days of IE suspicion. Read More

Childs Nerv Syst 2016 Jul 14;32(7):1205-17. Epub 2016 May 14.

Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Mail Code 8855, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.

Introduction: Infectious intracranial aneurysms (IIAs) account for approximately 15 % of all pediatric intracranial aneurysms. Histologically, they are pseudoaneurysms that develop in response to an inflammatory reaction within the adventitia and muscularis layers, ultimately resulting in disruption of both the internal elastic membrane and the intima. The majority of pediatric IIAs are located within the anterior circulation, and they can be multiple in 15-25 % of cases. Read More

Clin Res Cardiol 2016 Oct 27;105(10):847-57. Epub 2016 Apr 27.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital-Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747, Jena, Germany.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still associated with high morbidity and mortality. The impact of pre-operative stroke on mortality and long-term survival is controversial. In addition, data on the severity of neurological disability due to pre-operative stroke are scarce. Read More

J Med Microbiol 2016 Jun 5;65(6):493-9. Epub 2016 Apr 5.

7​ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA 6​ Department of Infectious Disease, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA 2​ Department of Microbiology, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Nutritionally variant streptococci, now classified as Abiotrophia defectivaor Granulicatella spp., are thought to account for 2 % of all infective endocarditis cases but estimates of their frequency are complicated by changes in nomenclature and difficulties in obtaining positive microbiology cultures. Their growth characteristics and difficulty undertaking antibiotic susceptibility testing may impede optimal antibiotic treatment decisions. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2016 Feb 25;2016. Epub 2016 Feb 25.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.

This report describes a case of Campylobacter fetus prosthetic valve infective endocarditis and discusses the subsequent management. Although C. fetus has a tropism for vascular endothelium, infective endocarditis has rarely been reported. Read More

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2016 May 16;49(5):e119-26. Epub 2016 Feb 16.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany

Objectives: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with high mortality (20-40%) and neurological complications (20-50%). Postoperative intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is a feared complication especially in patients with preoperative cerebral infarcts. The aim of this study was to determine the radiological characteristics of cerebral lesions that could predict the occurrence of postoperative ICH in IE patients. Read More

Surg Neurol Int 2016 6;7. Epub 2016 Jan 6.

Department of Neurosurgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.

Background: To describe the application of an interposition graft bypass using superficial temporal artery (STA) for the treatment of a ruptured anterior cerebral artery (ACA) infectious aneurysm.

Case Description: A 30-year-old male suffered from severe headache with high fever. The patient's diagnosis was ruptured infectious ACA aneurysm at the A3 segment with a maximum diameter of 4. Read More

Klin Med (Mosk) 2016;94(9):701-4

Despite the well known clinical and laboratory signs of infectious endocarditis, it remains one of the most difficult conditions in terms of diagnostics. A cause of its late diagnostics is polymorphism of the clinical picture accompanied, especially at early stages, by clinical “masks” (cardiac, pulmonary, renal, cerebral, etc.). Read More

Ann Intensive Care 2015 Dec 1;5(1):45. Epub 2015 Dec 1.

Pôle de Réanimation, Hôpital R. Salengro, CHU de Lille, Avenue du Professeur E. Laine, 59037, Lille Cedex, France.

Background: Very few studies focused on patients with severe infective endocarditis (IE) and multiple complications leading to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Studied primary outcomes depended on the series and multiple prognostic factors have been identified. Our goal was to determinate characteristics of patients, in-hospital mortality and independent prognostic factors in an overall population of patients admitted to ICU for a left-sided, definite, active and severe IE. Read More

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2016 Feb 19;35(2):159-68. Epub 2015 Nov 19.

Public Health Department, CHU Grenoble, Grenoble, France.

The nervous system is frequently involved in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). A systematic review of the literature was realized in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). This study sought to systematically evaluate the published evidence of the contribution of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in IE. Read More

Infect Dis (Lond) 2016 15;48(3):235-40. Epub 2015 Nov 15.

d Public Health Department ;

Background: Because neurological failure is the most frequent extra-cardiac complication in Infectious Endocarditis (IE), a brain computerised tomography (CT) scan is usually performed. The benefits of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have not been clearly established. This study aims to clarify the prevalence and type of cerebral lesions in IE detected using MRI and to compare them with those detected using CT scans. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2015 Nov;68(11):896-902

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.

Neurological complications in patients with infective endocarditis are frequent and mortality is higher in those with neurological complications than in those without. The spectrum of neurological complications includes cerebral infarction, intracranial hemorrhage, intracranial infectious aneurysm, transient ischemic attack (TIA), meningitis, encephalopathy and brain abscess. The appropriate timing of valve surgery following a cerebrovascular event remains controversial because cardiopulmonary bypass may exacerbate neurological deficits. Read More

Infez Med 2015 Sep;23(3):275-9

Hepatology Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.

Body piercing is a social phenomenon on the rise especially among young people. This procedure may be complicated by serious bacterial and viral infections. We report a case of Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis and meningitis arising from the site of a nape piercing, after its removal. Read More

Heart 2015 Nov 18;101(22):1786-91. Epub 2015 Aug 18.

Division of Cardiology, Asan Medical Center, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan Seoul, Korea.

Although early surgery is performed in approximately half of patients for the treatment of infective endocarditis (IE), the optimal timing of surgery remains unclear. Appropriate early surgery can avoid death and severe complications, but nearly one-quarter of patients with indications for surgery do not receive surgical intervention. Multidisciplinary collaborations among cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and infectious disease specialists are required for appropriate decisions about indication and timing of surgical intervention. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2015 Feb;68(2):149-52

Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Gunma Prefectural Cardiovascular Center, Maebashi, Japan.

A 44-year-old man was admitted with the diagnosis of active infective endocarditis( IE) due to Streptococcus mitis, complicated with infectious intracranial aneurysm. Preoperative echocardiography showed mobile vegetation on the mitral leaflet, size of which was 20 mm. The magnetic resonance imaging( MRI) demonstrated that the size of aneurysm was increasing, and infectious intracranial aneurysm was treated surgically. Read More

Neurohospitalist 2014 Oct;4(4):213-22

Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Neurologic complications of infective endocarditis (IE) are common and frequently life threatening. Neurologic events are not always obvious. The prediction and management of neurologic complications of IE are not easily approached algorithmically, and the impact they have on timing and ability to surgically repair or replace the affected valve often requires a painstaking evaluation and joint effort across multiple medical disciplines in order to achieve the best possible outcome. Read More

Circulation 2014 Sep 25;130(13):1053-61. Epub 2014 Jul 25.

From the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan (I.S., H.S., T.A., M.K., K. Kurosaki); the Department of Preventive Cardiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan (K.N.); the Department of Cardiology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan (H.K.); the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan (T.N.); the Department of Pediatrics, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan (H.Y.); the Department of Cardiology, Fukuoka Children's Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan (K.S.); the Department of Clinical Pathology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan (Y.I.); the Department of Bioscience and Genetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan (T.M.); and the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan (T.H., K. Kagisaki, H.I.).

Background: Recently, infant cases of acute heart failure attributable to rupture of the mitral chordae tendineae have been reported. However, little is known about the pathogenesis and clinical course of this condition.

Methods And Results: Ninety-five children with rupture of mitral chordae tendineae were identified in nationwide surveys of Japan diagnosed from 1995 to 2013. Read More

J Neurointerv Surg 2015 Jun 28;7(6):449-52. Epub 2014 Apr 28.

Cerebrovascular Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Background: Cerebral angiography remains the gold standard for the detection of mycotic aneurysms, and it has been estimated that ruptured mycotic aneurysms result in 5% of the neurological complications of patients with infective endocarditis (IE).

Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield of cerebral angiography in the above patient population and to assess patient factors that might suggest greater or lesser utility.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 168 patients who underwent cerebral angiography with a diagnosis of IE or infected left ventricular assist device at the Cleveland Clinic between January 2003 and March 2010 in accordance with institutional review board guidelines. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2014 Mar 16;20(3):175-80. Epub 2014 Jan 16.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Hematology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients who were treated with cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, at Tokyo Women's Medical University Hospital between January 2006 and December 2010. During the study period, 84/140 (60%) patients received cefazolin (mean age, 54 years; range, 0-94 years, male patients 64%). Of these, 60/84 (71%) cases were hospital acquired infections, 55/84 (65%) had heart disease, and 19/84 (23%) had moderate to severe heart failure (New York Heart Association class III/IV). Read More

Semergen 2014 Jan-Feb;40(1):47-9. Epub 2013 Sep 21.

Servicio Galego de Saúde (Sergas), Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Punto de Atención Continuada (PAC) Val Miñor, Vigo, Pontevedra, España.

Stroke 2013 Nov 3;44(11):3056-62. Epub 2013 Sep 3.

From the Departments of Cardiology (B.I., D.M.-Z., E.B.), Biostatistic (S.T.), Radiology (I.K.), Cardiovascular Surgery (L.L., N.A.-A.), Microbiology (R.R.), Intensive Care (M.W.), and Infectious Disease (X.D.), AP-HP, Bichat Hospital, Paris, France; Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, France (B.I., R.R., C.L., M.W., X.D.); INSERM Clinical Investigation Center 007, Paris, France (S.T., X.D.); and INSERM U738, Paris, France (C.L., X.D.).

Background And Purpose: Cerebral lesions are frequent complications of infective endocarditis (IE) and have a prognostic impact. Cerebral MRI identifies lesions in a high number of patients. However, their determinants have not been identified. Read More

Clin Microbiol Infect 2014 Jan 24;20(1):O33-8. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.

The role of Streptococcus species as an aetiological microorganism of vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is considered to be of little relevance. We aimed to describe a large number of cases of streptococcal vertebral osteomyelitis (SVO), to analyze the clinical features associated with different Streptococcus species, and to compare them with a cohort of patients with VO caused by Staphylococcus aureus. An incidence study and a retrospective, multicenter, observational clinical study of cases of SVO (1991-2011) were performed. Read More

Circulation 2013 Jun 6;127(23):2272-84. Epub 2013 May 6.

Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases, Seville, Spain.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of neurological complications in patients with infective endocarditis, the risk factors for their development, their influence on the clinical outcome, and the impact of cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on a multicenter cohort of 1345 consecutive episodes of left-sided infective endocarditis from 8 centers in Spain. Cox regression models were developed to analyze variables predictive of neurological complications and associated mortality. Read More

Cerebrovasc Dis 2013 23;35(4):327-36. Epub 2013 Apr 23.

Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Paris 7 University Medical School, Bichat University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.

Background: Cerebral complications are well-identified causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Few studies have analysed the impact of brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in IE patients with neurological manifestations.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the MRI contribution to the management of patients with IE neurological manifestations and to compare cerebral CT and MRI findings. Read More

Curr Treat Options Neurol 2013 Aug;15(4):465-76

Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA,

Opinion Statement: Symptomatic neurologic complications of IE are frequent, and asymptomatic cerebral embolism diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) occurs in many more patients. Neurologic complications increase mortality and complicate surgical decision-making. The most common neurologic complication is stroke due to septic embolism. Read More