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ObjectiveTo develop and validate a calculator to predict the risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with active infective endocarditis (IE) undergoing cardiac surgery.MethodsThousand two hundred and ninety-nine consecutive patients with IE were prospectively recruited (1996–2014) and retrospectively analysed. Left-sided patients who underwent cardiac surgery (n=671) form our study population and were randomised into development (n=424) and validation (n=247) samples. Variables statistically significant to predict in-mortality were integrated in a multivariable prediction model, the Risk-Endocarditis Score (RISK-E). The predictive performance of the score and four existing surgical scores (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) I and II), Prosthesis, Age ≥70, Large Intracardiac Destruction, Staphylococcus, Urgent Surgery, Sex (Female) (PALSUSE), EuroSCORE ≥10) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons’s Infective endocarditis score (STS-IE)) were assessed and compared in our cohort. Finally, an external validation of the RISK-E in a separate population was done.ResultsVariables included in the final model were age, prosthetic infection, periannular complications, Staphylococcus aureus or fungi infection, acute renal failure, septic shock, cardiogenic shock and thrombocytopaenia. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in the validation sample was 0.82 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.88). The accuracy of the other surgical scores when compared with the RISK-E was inferior (p=0.010). Our score also obtained a good predictive performance, area under the curve 0.76 (95% CI 0.64 to 0.88), in the external validation.ConclusionsIE-specific factors (microorganisms, periannular complications and sepsis) beside classical variables in heart surgery (age, haemodynamic condition and renal failure) independently predicted perioperative mortality in IE. The RISK-E had better ability to predict surgical mortality in patients with IE when compared with other surgical scores.

Foodborne diseases (FBDs) represent a significant public health concern, particularly in regions like Central America and the Caribbean (CAC), where surveillance gaps due to a lack of resources, knowledge, and technical abilities hinder control over outbreaks. This review investigates the bacterial pathogens responsible for FBDs, their prevalence, management challenges, and prevention strategies. This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, focusing on bacterial FBDs in CAC from 2000 to 2024. PubMed and Google Scholar were used as primary databases, supported by other sources to identify relevant studies. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies focusing on bacterial pathogens, prevalence, risk factors, and surveillance practices. Out of the 509 studies initially identified, 35 met the inclusion criteria. The most prevalent pathogens were Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp., and Aliarcobacter spp., with contamination often associated with poultry, eggs, and vegetables. Key challenges included inadequate surveillance systems, limited resources, and inconsistent reporting practices. A more significant investment in pathogen monitoring, documentation, and education, along with technologies like whole-genome sequencing (WGS), is crucial. Institutional and governmental funding is vital to improve surveillance and strengthen regional risk analysis.

ObjectiveRecurrent infective endocarditis (IE) is a major complication of patients surviving a first episode of IE. This study sought to analyse the current state of recurrent IE in a large contemporary cohort.Methods1335 consecutive episodes of IE were recruited prospectively in three tertiary care centres in Spain between 1996 and 2015. Episodes were categorised into group I (n=1227), first-IE episode and group II (n=108), recurrent IE (8.1%). After excluding six patients, due to lack of relevant data, group II was subdivided into IIa (n=87), reinfection (different microorganism), and IIb (n=15), relapse (same microorganism within 6 months of the initial episode).ResultsThe cumulative burden and incidence of recurrence was slightly lower in the second decade of the study (2006–2015) (7.17 vs 4.10 events/100 survivors and 7.51% vs 3.82, respectively). Patients with reinfections, compared with group I, were significantly younger, had a higher frequency of HIV infection, were more commonly intravenous drug users (IVDU) and prosthetic valve carriers, had less embolic complications and cardiac surgery, with similar in-hospital mortality. IVDU was found to be an independent predictor of reinfection (HR 3.92, 95% CI 1.86 to 8.28).In the relapse IE group, prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) and periannular complications were more common. Among patients treated medically, those with PVE had a higher relapse incidence (4.82% vs 0.43% in native valve IE, p=0.018). Staphylococcus aureus and PVE were independent predictors of relapse (HR 3.14, 95% CI 1.11 to 8.86 and 3.19, 95% CI 1.13 to 9.00, respectively) and in-hospital-mortality was similar to group I. Three-year all-cause mortality was similar in recurrent episodes compared with single episodes.ConclusionRecurrent IE remains a frequent late complication. IVDU was associated with a fourfold increase in the risk of reinfection. PVE treated medically and infections caused by S. aureus increased the risk of relapse. In-hospital and long-term mortality was comparable among groups.

Background Despite the advances in the last decades for treatment of ischemic heart disease, women continue to experience poorer prognosis than men and currently, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the optimal revascularization strategy in women. Objective Compare the long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for the treatment of stable ischemic heart disease in women. Methods A systematic search was conducted including randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing PCI with drug-eluting stents with CABG. The primary outcome were the composite outcomes of death, stroke or myocardial infarction (MI) and death, stroke, MI or repeat revascularization. Secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary outcomes. Pooled hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated in a fixed- effects meta-analysis using the inverse of variance method. Risk of bias and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Results Six multicenter, RCTs were included after eligibility assessment. Median follow-up was 6.25 years (IQR: 5- 2.5). A significant benefit for CABG over PCI was observed for the primary composite outcomes of death, stroke, MI (HR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.01–1.52; p  = 0.037) and death, stroke, MI or repeat revascularization (HR = 1.60; 95% CI 1.25–2.03; p  < 0.000). Conclusion In the present study-level metanalysis, CABG is associated with a lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events than PCI at long term follow-up in women.

The spread and contamination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in ambient waters is an emerging concern in urban, rural, medical, and industrial settings. A large amount of domestic, hospital, and industrial wastewater discharged directly into the rivers through the different channels can turn them into extensive reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, surface water samples from three collection sites were analyzed, according to different levels of anthropogenic impacts, along the Ozama River, one of the most important rivers in the Dominican metropolitan area, a source of water and food for human consumption. Seventy-six bacterial isolates were selected based on resistance to beta-lactams, using culture media previously enriched with cefotaxime and imipenem. Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF) subsequently identified them. The isolates covered 12 genera of bacteria; more than 30% were clinically relevant, and 43% had phenotypes classified as multidrug resistance. A total of 10 (44%) presented resistance. However, only seven presented resistance to 3 or more of the 14 groups of antibiotics, considered to be a multiresistant phenotype, which was sequenced using the high-throughput sequencing technique or New Generation (NGS). This study is part of the initiative to understand the profiles of the dangers of multidrug resistance in the metropolitan and rural areas of the Dominican Republic and its possible implications for human health.

In the adult population, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a serious disease that is responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates, being frequently associated with multidrug resistant pathogens. The aim of this review is to update a practical immunization prevention guideline for CAP in Spain caused by prevalent respiratory pathogens, based on the available scientific evidence through extensive bibliographic review and expert opinion. The emergence of COVID-19 as an additional etiological cause of CAP, together with the rapid changes in the availability of vaccines and recommendations against SARS-CoV-2, justifies the need for an update. In addition, new conjugate vaccines of broader spectrum against pneumococcus, existing vaccines targeting influenza and pertussis or upcoming vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be very useful prophylactic tools to diminish the burden of CAP and all of its derived complications. In this manuscript, we provide practical recommendations for adult vaccination against the pathogens mentioned above, including their contribution against antibiotic resistance. This guide is intended for the individual perspective of protection and not for vaccination policies, as we do not pretend to interfere with the official recommendations of any country. The use of vaccines is a realistic approach to fight these infections and ameliorate the impact of antimicrobial resistance. All of the recently available scientific evidence included in this review gives support to the indications established in this practical guide to reinforce the dissemination and implementation of these recommendations in routine clinical practice.

Infective endocarditis (IE) due to Streptococcus bovis has been classically associated with elderly patients, frequently involving >1 valve, with large vegetations and high embolic risk, which make it a high-risk group. Our aim is to analyze the current clinical profile and prognosis of S bovis IE episodes, in comparison to those episodes caused by viridans group streptococci and enterococci. We analyzed 1242 consecutive episodes of IE prospectively recruited on an ongoing multipurpose database, of which 294 were streptococcal left-sided IE and comprised our study group. They were classified into 3 groups: group I (n = 47), episodes of IE due to S bovis; group II (n = 134), episodes due to viridans group streptococci; and group III (n = 113), those episodes due to enterococci. The incidence of enterococci IE has significantly increased in the last 2 decades (6.4% [1996-2004] vs 11.1% [2005-2013]; P = .005), whereas the incidence of IE due to S bovis and viridans streptococci have remained stable (4% and 10%, respectively). Gender distribution was similar in the 3 groups. Patients with S bovis and enterococci IE were older than those from group II. Nosocomial acquisition was more frequent in group III. Concerning comorbidity, diabetes mellitus (36.7% vs 9.2% vs 26.8%; P < .001) was more common in groups I and III. Chronic renal failure was more prevalent in patients from group III (4.2% vs 1.5% vs 19%; P < .001). Prosthetic valve IE was more frequent in enterococcal IE. Infection upon normal native valves was more frequent in S bovis IE. Colorectal tumors were found in 69% of patients from this group. Vegetation detection was similar in the 3 groups. However, vegetation size was smaller in S bovis IE. During hospitalization, in-hospital complications and in-hospital mortality were higher in enterococci episodes. S bovis IE accounts for 3.8% of all IE episodes in our cohort; it is associated with a high prevalence of colonic tumors, with predominance of benign lesions, and affects patients without preexisting valve disease. It is related to small vegetations and a low rate of in-hospital complications, including systemic embolisms. In-hospital mortality is similar to that of viridans group streptococci.

Background There is no solid evidence on the clinical benefits of blood cardioplegia or Custodiol™ in procedures other than coronary artery bypass grafting. We aimed to compare mortality and the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients undergoing valve or aortic surgery. Methods This retrospective single-center study included patients who underwent valve or ascending aortic surgery between 2016 and 2024. The sample was divided based on the type of cardioplegia for myocardial protection: Custodiol™ or blood cardioplegia. The comparison of outcomes between the two groups was adjusted using propensity score. Results 2909 patients were included, with 1426 (49%) receiving Custodiol™. In a propensity score-matched analysis that included 930 pairs, we observed higher perioperative mortality in the blood cardioplegia group (5.3% vs. 2.9%, p  = 0.014) and worse long-term survival ( p  = 0.004). In an IPTW analysis, we confirmed significant differences in favor of Custodiol™ for early mortality (-2.2%, 95% CI -4; -0.4), long-term mortality (2.6 years, 95% CI 2.1; 3.2), and renal failure (-4.7%, 95% CI -7.9; -1.6), and low cardiac output syndrome requiring mechanical circulatory support (-2.2%, 95% CI -3.6;-0.9), but a higher siks of postoperative denovo atrial fibrillation (6.8%, 95% CI 2.5;11). Conclusions In this retrospective study including patients undergoing on-pump valve and aortic surgery, Custodiol™ compared to blood cardioplegia was associated with lower short- and medium-term mortality, although no robust evidence was found for differences in other clinical events.

IntroductionInformation about community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) risk in primary care is limited. We assess different lifestyle and comorbid conditions as risk factors (RF) for CAP in adults in primary care.MethodsA retrospective-observational-controlled study was designed. Adult CAP cases diagnosed at primary care in Spain between 2009 and 2013 were retrieved using the National Surveillance System of Primary Care Data (BiFAP). Age-matched and sex-matched controls were selected by incidence density sampling (ratio 2:1). Associations are presented as percentages and OR. Binomial regression models were constructed to avoid bias effects.Results51 139 patients and 102 372 controls were compared. Mean age (SD) was 61.4 (19.9) years. RF more significantly linked to CAP were: HIV (OR [95% CI]: 5.21 [4.35 to 6.27]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (2.97 [2.84 to 3.12]), asthma (2.16 [2.07,2.26]), smoking (1.96 [1.91 to 2.02]) and poor dental hygiene (1.45 [1.41 to 1.49]). Average prevalence of any RF was 82.2% in cases and 69.2% in controls (2.05 [2.00 to 2.10]). CAP rate increased with the accumulation of RF and age: risk associated with 1RF was 1.42 (1.37 to 1.47) in 18–60-year-old individuals vs 1.57 (1.49 to 1.66) in >60 years of age, with 2RF 1.88 (1.80 to 1.97) vs 2.35 (2.23, 2.48) and with ≥ 3 RF 3.11 (2.95, 3.30) vs 4.34 (4.13 to 4.57).DiscussionPrevalence of RF in adult CAP in primary care is high. Main RFs associated are HIV, COPD, asthma, smoking and poor dental hygiene. Our risk stacking results could help clinicians identify patients at higher risk of pneumonia.