2006 - UZ Leuven

prosthetic valve endocarditis who was successfully treated withlinezolid.HILL E.E., HERIJGERS P., HERREGODS M.C., PEETERMANS W.E.:Evolving trends in infective endocarditis. Clin. Microbiol. Infect., 2006;12(7): 698-699.Infective endocarditis is a microbial infection of the endocardialsurface and, despite improvements in diagnostic accuracy, medicaltherapy and surgical techniques, mortality remains high. This reviewfocuses on changes in epidemiology, microbiology and diagnosis, aswell as changes in medical and surgical management of infectiveendocarditis affecting native and prosthetic valves in adults, that haveevolved during the past two decades. Significant changes haveincluded an increasing involvement of prosthetic valves andnosocomially-acquired disease, an increased involvement ofstaphylococci as the causative agents, and a recognition that elderlyindividuals with degenerative valvular disease are the most vulnerablepopulation. Topics still requiring study include whether and whenvalve replacement should be performed, and how to predictperivalvular complications or embolisation based on echocardiographyfindings. Optimisation of antimicrobial treatment schemes (choice ofthe antibiotic, dose and duration) also requires further investigation.MEURIS B., GEWILLIG M., MEYNS B.: Extreme levels of alphafetoproteinin newborn with a benign intrapericardial teratoma. Cardiol.Young., 2006; 16(1): 76-77.We report a neonate presenting with an intrapericardial benignteratoma and an exceptionally high level of alpha-fetoprotein. Suchsevere elevation of alpha-fetoprotein in a neonate with a teratoma isusually associated with the presence of immature or malignantelements, compromising the prognosis. The tumour in our patient,however, proved to be completely benign. We discuss recent findingswith regard to normal levels of alpha-fetoprotein levels in preterminfants, and in children with neonatal teratomas.MEYNS B., VERBEKEN E., KERKHOFFS W., BETHUYNE N., BAKIR I.,MARSEILLE O., SCHUMACHER O.: Partial support for chronic heartfailure with a subcutaneous pump. J. Heart Lung Transplant, 2006; 25(2):123-124.30