Prognosis of prosthetic valve infective endocarditis due to Streptococcus spp., a retrospective multi-site study to assess the impact of antibiotic treatment duration.

Purpose: The duration of antibiotic treatment for prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Streptococcus spp. is largely based on clinical observations and expert opinion rather than empirical studies. Here we assess the impact of a shorter antibiotic duration.

Evaluating the heart valve tissue diffusion of amoxicillin in infective endocarditis: a pilot prospective observational non-comparative study.

Objectives: Treating patients with infective endocarditis (IE) due to streptococci and enterococci currently involves high-dosage antibiotics. Recent literature suggests a 30%-70% diffusion rate could be extrapolated to human heart valve tissue. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diffusion coefficient of amoxicillin in heart valve tissue of patients operated for IE.

Comparison of the New VITEK MS PRIME System with the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Biotyper Microflex LT for the Identification of Microorganisms.

Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is the cornerstone of bacterial identification. The performance of a new MALDI time-of-flight mass spectrometry VITEK MS PRIME (VMS-P) system was compared with that of the MALDI Biotyper Microflex LT (MBT) system, which is routinely used in our laboratory.

Methods: Sixteen bacterial and yeast reference strains cultured in 20 different media were analyzed over 10 consecutive rounds using both systems.

Frequency and factors associated with infusion-related local complications of vancomycin on peripheral venous catheters.

Background: Vancomycin is a reference antibiotic against methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Its administration is associated with infusion-related local complications (IRLC). To reduce this risk, it has been proposed to increase vancomycin dilution in the IV bag and to perform continuous infusion using the volumetric pump.