Endocarditis News and Research

Latest Endocarditis News and Research

SPECT/CT with 99mTc-HMPAO-WBC can improve diagnosis of infectious endocarditis

When combined with standard diagnostic tests, functional imaging procedures have been shown to reduce the rate of misdiagnosed cases of infectious endocarditis. According to new research published in the August issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/computed tomography (CT) with 99mTc-hexamethylpropleneamine oxime-labeled white blood cells (99mTc-HMPAO-WBC) can improve the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis in hard-to-diagnose cases.

2 Aug 2012

New class of chemically produced antimicrobial agents could become future infection treatment alternative

The World Health Organization (WHO) has named antimicrobial resistance one of the most important threats to human health. We therefore need to find new compounds that can be used as future alternatives to conventional antibiotics.

20 Jul 2012

Early surgery best for infective endocarditis

Compared with conventional treatment, early surgery for patients with infective endocarditis and large vegetations significantly reduces the risk for death or embolic events by reducing the risk for systemic embolism, show results from a randomized trial.

12 Jul 2012

Guideline update for infective endocarditis successful

The incidence of infective endocarditis did not increase after American guidelines for antibiotic use before dental procedures were updated in 2007, a report in Circulation shows.

12 Jun 2012

ImmuVen awarded $1.68M NIH Phase II SBIR grant to develop IMV0123

ImmuVen was awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant totaling $1.68 million from the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIH) for continuing development of its therapeutic pipeline (IMV0123) against superantigens produced by methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus.

2 May 2012

ICDs may increase risk of complications in patients with infective endocarditis

Patients with infective endocarditis involving implanted cardiac devices experience a high rate of complications such as valve infections, heart failure, and persistent bacteremia, and high in-hospital and 1-year mortality rates, particularly if there is valve involvement, according to a study in the April 25 issue of JAMA.

24 Apr 2012

Study shows how biofilms form on implanted devices

Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the 'superbug' behind MRSA, can be a major problem for patients who have a medical implant, such as a replacement heart valve or pacemaker.

11 Apr 2012

TYRX enrolls 1000th patient in CITADEL/CENTURION AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope studies

TYRX, Inc., the leader in the commercialization of implantable medical devices designed to help reduce surgical-site infections (SSIs) associated with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), announced today that the 1000th patient has been enrolled into the CITADEL & CENTURION clinical studies evaluating the company's AIGISRx Antibacterial Envelope.

2 Apr 2012

S. gordonii may trigger infective endocarditis

Oral bacteria that escape into the bloodstream are able to cause blood clots and trigger life-threatening endocarditis. Further research could lead to new drugs to tackle infective heart disease, say scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Dublin this week.

26 Mar 2012

Dental hygiene critical for preventing endocarditis in patients with congenital heart disease

Poor dental hygiene behaviours in patients with congenital heart disease are increasing their risk of endocarditis. Teens with congenital heart disease floss, brush and visit the dentist less than their peers. But they have healthier behaviours when it comes to alcohol, cigarettes and illicit drugs.

16 Mar 2012

Natural compound of Chilean avocado plant can combat resistant yellow staphylococci

Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide. The development of bacterial resistance is alarming. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics.

20 Feb 2012

WSU researchers to study novel antibiotic that may treat VRE infection

The bacteria Enterococcus can cause infections that typically target the digestive tract or bowel; if the bacteria spread, an abdominal abscess or urinary infection could result. Enterococcus also can invade the bloodstream, leading to meningitis, pneumonia or endocarditis - an infection of the heart valve.

17 Nov 2011

Poor dental care leads to health problems, costs

Meanwhile, a survey finds that Americans are open to new options for dental care to help address the high costs and shortage issues.

7 Oct 2011

Pfizer releases Phase III study results comparing VFEND-ERAXIS combination to VFEND for IA

Pfizer Inc. today reported the top-line results of an international Phase III clinical trial which compared the combination of VFEND (voriconazole) and ERAXISTM (anidulafungin) to VFEND monotherapy for primary therapy of invasive aspergillosis, a life-threatening invasive fungal infection that can develop as a complication in patients with compromised immune systems.

1 Oct 2011

Stony Brook University opens new center to treat valvular heart disease

Stony Brook University Medical Center has opened a new Valve Center that offers comprehensive treatment of valvular heart disease.

27 Sep 2011

Radiolabeled protein reveals presence of S. aureus endocarditis in mouse model

A novel imaging probe developed by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators may make it possible to diagnose accurately a dangerous infection of the heart valves.

22 Aug 2011

Amgen to present data from several Prolia studies at ASBMR 2011 meeting

Amgen today announced that it will present data from several Prolia (denosumab) studies, including eight year efficacy and safety data from a Phase 2 extension study in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis with low bone mineral density (BMD), at the 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. from Sept. 16-20, 2011.

19 Aug 2011

Vitamin D-deficiency linked to deaths of famous musicians

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 - 5 December 1791), suffered from many infectious illnesses including catarrh, fever, sore throat, and bad colds from 1762 to 1791, the year of his death at 35 years of age.

1 Jul 2011

Scientists discover how bacteria invade heart tissue and cause endocarditis

Scientists have discovered the tool that bacteria normally found in our mouths use to invade heart tissue, causing a dangerous and sometimes lethal infection of the heart known as endocarditis.

28 Jun 2011

Drug resistant bug plaguing the meat industry: Study

It has been found that nearly half of the meat and poultry (47 percent) sold in U.S. grocery stores is contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (“Staph”), a bacteria linked to a wide range of human diseases, and this bacteria is resistant to at least three classes of antibiotics in more than half (52 percent) of contaminated samples. This comes from a nationwide study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) published this week in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

17 Apr 2011