Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2025
Preparation of a Blood Culture Pellet for Rapid Bacterial Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing
Published on: October 15, 2014
Percutaneous aspiration for shortening time to blood cultures sterilization in right-sided infective endocarditis and
Francisco Polo Tirado1, Asaad Nakhle1, Eric Gnall2
1Department of Cardiology, Tulane University, 131 S Robertson St, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
Background:
Surgical intervention is associated with earlier clearance of bacteremia in infective endocarditis (IE).
Aim:
We hypothesized that vegetectomies using percutaneous aspiration shortens time to sterilization of blood cultures in patients with right-sided IE and vegetations.
Results:
The cohort included 37 patients, 23 treated conservatively, and 14 underwent percutaneous vegetectomy. The median time to blood culture sterilization among patients with bacteremia over 7 days was 16.5 (IQR 9.75-29) for patients treated conservatively and 11.5 (IQR 8.5-11.5) for those who underwent vegetectomy. The two patients who required mechanical ventilation were among the vegetectomy group, and the single patient who died during the same admission was treated conservatively. There were no complications in the vegetectomy group.
Conclusion:
These data are hypothesis-generating, suggesting that utilizing percutaneous aspiration in patients with right-sided IE and vegetations shortens time to sterilization of blood cultures, and possibly improves outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management
01:18Endocarditis III: Medical Management
01:26Endoscopic Studies II: Thoracocentesis
Description
Excess pleural fluid or air may accumulate in some respiratory disorders in the thoracic cavity. To treat pleural effusion, a physician conducts thoracentesis by carefully piercing the chest wall and entering...