Incidence and Predictors of Infections and All-Cause Death in Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices: The Italian Nationwide RI-AIAC Registry.

Background: The incidence of infections associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) and patient outcomes are not fully known.

Aim: To provide a contemporary assessment of the risk of CIEDs infection and associated clinical outcomes.

Methods: In Italy, 18 centres enrolled all consecutive patients undergoing a CIED procedure and entered a 12-months follow-up.

Concomitant screening of coronary artery disease and lung cancer with a new ultrafast-low-dose Computed Tomography protocol: A pilot randomised trial.

We performed a pilot randomised study to assess the feasibility and radiation exposure of a new computed tomography (CT) protocol that allows screening of both coronary artery disease (CAD) and lung cancer. Current or former heavy smokers at high lung cancer risk with indication to cardiac CT for suspected or known CAD were randomised to undergo concomitant CT evaluation of either cardiac or thoracic area or cardiac CT only. Out of 129 subjects deemed eligible for the study, 110 agreed to participate and were randomised to simultaneous cardiac and lung CT (Gr.

Detection of Biofilm-associated Implant Pathogens in Cardiac Device Infections: High Sensitivity of Sonication Fluid Culture Even in the Presence of Antimicrobials.

Introduction: Sonication showed more sensitivity than traditional culture in the diagnosis of device infections. Aims of the study were to assess the role of sonication in the microbiological diagnosis and management of cardiac device infections (CDIs), to evaluate the sensitivity of sonication in patients on antimicrobial therapy at the time of device removal, and to analyze biofilm formation of the isolated strains.

Materials And Methods: A total of 90 devices (31 generators and 59 electrodes) collected from 31 patients with infection underwent sonication before culture.

Comparison of partners-heart failure algorithm vs care alert in remote heart failure management.

Aim: To compare the utility of the partners-heart failure (HF) algorithm with the care alert strategy for remote monitoring, in guiding clinical actions oriented to treat impending HF.

Methods: Consecutive cardiac resynchronization-defibrillator recipients were followed with biweekly automatic transmissions. After every transmission, patients received a phone contact in order to check their health status, eventually followed by clinical actions, classified as "no-action", "non-active" and "active".