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Bacteraemia with gram-positive bacteria—when and how do I need to look for endocarditis?

Rasmussen, Magnus LU ; Gilje, Patrik LU ; Fagman, Erika and Berge, Andreas (2023) In Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Abstract

Background: Patients with bacteraemia caused by gram-positive bacteria are at risk for infective endocarditis (IE). Because IE needs long antibiotic treatment and sometimes heart valve surgery, it is very important to identify patients with IE. Objectives: In this narrative review we present and discuss how to determine which investigations to detect IE that are needed in individual patients with gram-positive bacteraemia. Sources: Published original studies and previous reviews in English, within the relevant field are used. Content: First, the different qualities of the bacteraemia in relation to IE risk are discussed. The risk for IE in bacteraemia is related to the species of the bacterium but also to monomicrobial bacteraemia and... (More)

Background: Patients with bacteraemia caused by gram-positive bacteria are at risk for infective endocarditis (IE). Because IE needs long antibiotic treatment and sometimes heart valve surgery, it is very important to identify patients with IE. Objectives: In this narrative review we present and discuss how to determine which investigations to detect IE that are needed in individual patients with gram-positive bacteraemia. Sources: Published original studies and previous reviews in English, within the relevant field are used. Content: First, the different qualities of the bacteraemia in relation to IE risk are discussed. The risk for IE in bacteraemia is related to the species of the bacterium but also to monomicrobial bacteraemia and the number of positive cultures. Second, patient-related factors for IE risk in bacteraemia are presented. Next, the risk stratification systems to determine the risk for IE in gram-positive bacteraemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, viridans streptococci, and Enterococcus faecalis are presented and their use is discussed. In the last part of the review, an account for the different modalities of IE-investigations is given. The main focus is on echocardiography, which is the cornerstone of IE-investigations. Furthermore, 18F-fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and cardiac computed tomography are presented and their use is also discussed. A brief account for investigations used to identify embolic phenomena in IE is also given. Finally, we present a flowchart suggesting which investigations to perform in relation to IE in patients with gram-positive bacteraemia. Implications: For the individual patient as well as the healthcare system, it is important both to diagnose IE and to decide when to stop looking for IE. This review might be helpful in finding that balance.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
Echocardiography, Endocarditis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Viridans streptococci
in
Clinical Microbiology and Infection
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • pmid:37659693
  • scopus:85171581720
ISSN
1198-743X
DOI
10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.027
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
015f9b4e-c3c2-411b-8858-fc3b353a0d79
date added to LUP
2023-12-20 13:34:30
date last changed
2024-04-18 23:12:04
@article{015f9b4e-c3c2-411b-8858-fc3b353a0d79,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Patients with bacteraemia caused by gram-positive bacteria are at risk for infective endocarditis (IE). Because IE needs long antibiotic treatment and sometimes heart valve surgery, it is very important to identify patients with IE. Objectives: In this narrative review we present and discuss how to determine which investigations to detect IE that are needed in individual patients with gram-positive bacteraemia. Sources: Published original studies and previous reviews in English, within the relevant field are used. Content: First, the different qualities of the bacteraemia in relation to IE risk are discussed. The risk for IE in bacteraemia is related to the species of the bacterium but also to monomicrobial bacteraemia and the number of positive cultures. Second, patient-related factors for IE risk in bacteraemia are presented. Next, the risk stratification systems to determine the risk for IE in gram-positive bacteraemia caused by Staphylococcus aureus, viridans streptococci, and Enterococcus faecalis are presented and their use is discussed. In the last part of the review, an account for the different modalities of IE-investigations is given. The main focus is on echocardiography, which is the cornerstone of IE-investigations. Furthermore, <sup>18</sup>F-fluorodesoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and cardiac computed tomography are presented and their use is also discussed. A brief account for investigations used to identify embolic phenomena in IE is also given. Finally, we present a flowchart suggesting which investigations to perform in relation to IE in patients with gram-positive bacteraemia. Implications: For the individual patient as well as the healthcare system, it is important both to diagnose IE and to decide when to stop looking for IE. This review might be helpful in finding that balance.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rasmussen, Magnus and Gilje, Patrik and Fagman, Erika and Berge, Andreas}},
  issn         = {{1198-743X}},
  keywords     = {{Echocardiography; Endocarditis; Enterococcus faecalis; Staphylococcus aureus; Viridans streptococci}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Clinical Microbiology and Infection}},
  title        = {{Bacteraemia with gram-positive bacteria—when and how do I need to look for endocarditis?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.027}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.cmi.2023.08.027}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}