Cutibacterium Species Valvular and Cardiac Device-Related Infective Endocarditis: Contemporary Data From the GAMES Prospective Cohort (2008-2023).

BACKGROUND

Information on infective endocarditis (IE) caused by Cutibacterium spp. is limited and new Duke-International Society for Cardiovascular Infectious Diseases (ISCVID) criteria have not yet been properly assessed. We examined clinical characteristics, outcomes, and performance of diagnostic tests for Cutibacterium valvular and cardiac implantable electronic device-related IE (CIED-IE).

METHODS

Data corresponding to all episodes of Cutibacterium IE recorded from 2008 to 2023 in a prospective national cohort including 46 Spanish hospitals were examined. Possible IE cases were reassessed using the new criteria. The sensitivity of blood cultures, valvular and CIED cultures, and polymerase chain reaction of the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing (16SPCR) was evaluated.

RESULTS

Of 6692 episodes of IE, 67 (1%) were caused by Cutibacterium spp. with 85% affecting men. Of these, 50 were valve-related (45 prosthetic, 5 native) and 17 CIED-related. The new criteria identified 8 additional cases and reclassified 15 as definite IE. Intracardiac complications (abscess, pseudoaneurysm, perforation, or intracardiac fistula) occurred in 23 of 50 (46%) valvular IE episodes, leading to 18% mortality, and up to 40% mortality if surgery was indicated but could not be performed. All CIED-IE cases underwent device removal and no deaths were recorded. Positive diagnosis rates for blood cultures, valve/device cultures, and 16SPCR were 52%, 70%, and 82%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Cutibacterium IE is a rare yet potentially life-threatening condition that warrants a high index of suspicion in men with endovascular prosthetic material. The new Duke-ISCVID criteria and molecular techniques are useful for its diagnosis. Considering a significant complication rate, cardiac surgery and removal of CIEDs play a key role in reducing mortality.