{
    "abstract": "The number of patients treated by ventricular assist devices (VAD) and the duration of VAD treatment is increasing. One of the main complications in terms of morbidity and mortality for VAD patients are microbial infections. With this study, we aimed to investigate the epidemiology and microbiological characteristics of infections occurring in a VAD population to identify modifiable factors.\nWe retrospectively analyzed patient characteristics, treatments and outcomes of VAD-specific/related infections. All patients implanted in our institution with a continuous flow VAD between January 2009 and January 2019 were included. Risk factors for VAD infection were assessed using simple and multiple linear regressions.\nOf the 104 patients screened, 99 were included in the analysis, the majority of which were men (78%). At implantation, the mean age was 56\u2009years and the median time on VAD support was 541\u2009days. The overall infection rate per year per patient was 1.4. Forty-seven patients (60%) suffered from VAD-specific/related infection. Half of all infection episodes occurred in the first 4\u2009months but the proportion of VAD-specific/related infection was higher after the first 4\u2009months (74% of all infection). Using regression models, no patient specific risk factors were associated with VAD-specific/related infections.\nNo predictive factors for infection during VAD support were identified in this study. By extension, diabetes, renal insufficiency, age or high BMI are not sufficient to deny a patient access to ventricular support.",
    "authors": [
        {
            "affiliation": "Centre for Advanced Heart Failure, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Giancarlo",
            "initials": "G",
            "lastname": "Spano"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Centre for Advanced Heart Failure, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Eric",
            "initials": "E",
            "lastname": "Buffle"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Laura Na\u00ebmi",
            "initials": "LN",
            "lastname": "Walti"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Cardiac Surgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Maks",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Mihalj"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "David R",
            "initials": "DR",
            "lastname": "Cameron"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Centre for Advanced Heart Failure, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Michele",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "Martinelli"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Centre for Advanced Heart Failure, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Monika",
            "initials": "M",
            "lastname": "F\u00fcrholz"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Yok-Ai",
            "initials": "YA",
            "lastname": "Que"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Heart Failure and Transplant Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.",
            "firstname": "Christopher",
            "initials": "C",
            "lastname": "Hayward"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Department of Infectious Diseases, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "David",
            "initials": "D",
            "lastname": "Reineke"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Centre for Advanced Heart Failure, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.",
            "firstname": "Lukas",
            "initials": "L",
            "lastname": "Hunziker"
        },
        {
            "affiliation": "Centre for Advanced Heart Failure, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.\nHeart Failure and Transplant Unit, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.",
            "firstname": "Bruno",
            "initials": "B",
            "lastname": "Schnegg"
        }
    ],
    "conclusions": "No predictive factors for infection during VAD support were identified in this study. By extension, diabetes, renal insufficiency, age or high BMI are not sufficient to deny a patient access to ventricular support.",
    "copyrights": "\u00a9 2022 International Center for Artificial Organ and Transplantation (ICAOT) and Wiley Periodicals LLC.",
    "doi": "10.1111/aor.14477",
    "journal": "Artificial organs",
    "keywords": [
        "LVAD",
        "drive line",
        "infection"
    ],
    "methods": null,
    "publication_date": "2022-12-09",
    "pubmed_id": "36478260",
    "results": "Of the 104 patients screened, 99 were included in the analysis, the majority of which were men (78%). At implantation, the mean age was 56\u2009years and the median time on VAD support was 541\u2009days. The overall infection rate per year per patient was 1.4. Forty-seven patients (60%) suffered from VAD-specific/related infection. Half of all infection episodes occurred in the first 4\u2009months but the proportion of VAD-specific/related infection was higher after the first 4\u2009months (74% of all infection). Using regression models, no patient specific risk factors were associated with VAD-specific/related infections.",
    "title": "Ten-year retrospective cohort analysis of ventricular assist device infections.",
    "xml": "<Element 'PubmedArticle' at 0x788505d1b920>"
}