Long-term Outcomes of Patients With Fungal Infections Associated With Contaminated Methylprednisolone Injections.

Background: The largest health care-associated infection outbreak in the United States occurred during 2012-2013. Following injection of contaminated methylprednisolone, 753 patients developed infection with a dematiaceous mold, . The long-term outcomes of these infections have not been described.

Heart valve culture and sequencing to identify the infective endocarditis pathogen in surgically treated patients.

Background: Testing excised valves in surgically treated infective endocarditis (IE) patients provides an opportunity to identify the microbial etiology of IE. Microbial sequencing (universal bacterial, mycobacterial, or fungal polymerase chain reaction followed by DNA sequencing) of valves can identify microorganisms accurately, but the value it adds beyond information provided by blood and valve cultures has not been adequately explored.

Methods: Three hundred fifty-six patients who underwent surgery for active IE from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2013, were identified from our cardiovascular information registry and outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy registry.