Driveline infection (DLI) is common after left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Limited data exist on DLI prevention and management. We investigated the impact of standardized driveline care initiatives, specific pathogens, and chronic antibiotic suppression (CAS) on DLI outcomes. 591 LVAD patients were retrospectively categorized based on driveline care initiatives implemented at our institution (2009-2019). Era (E)1: nonstandardized care; E2: standardized driveline care protocol; E3: addition of marking driveline exit site; E4: addition of "no shower" policy. 87(15%) patients developed DLI at a median (IQR) of 403(520) days. S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were the most common pathogens. 31 (36%) of DLI patients required incision and drainage (I&D) and 5 (5.7%) device exchange. P. aeruginosa significantly increased risk for initial I&D (HR 2.7, 95% CI, 1.1-6.3) and recurrent I&D or death (HR 4.2, 95% CI, 1.4-12.5). Initial I&D was associated with a significant increased risk of death (HR 2.92 (1.33-6.44); P = 0.008) when compared to patients who did not develop DLI. Implementation of standardized driveline care protocol (E2) was associated with increased 2-year freedom from DLI compared to nonstandardized care (HR 0.36, 95% CI, 0.2-0.6, P < 0.01). Additional preventive strategies (E3&E4) showed no further reduction in DLI rates. 57(65%) DLI patients received CAS, 44% of them required escalation to intravenous antibiotics and/or I&D. Presence of P. aeruginosa DLI markedly increased risk for I&D or death. Conditional survival of patients progressing to I&D is diminished. Standardized driveline care protocol was associated with a significant reduction in DLI, while additional preventive strategies require further testing.

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Background: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on serum creatinine (sCr) improves early after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation but subsequently declines. Although sCr is a commonly accepted clinical standard, cystatin C (CysC) has shown superiority in assessment of renal function in disease states characterized by muscle wasting. Among patients with an LVAD, we aimed to (1) longitudinally compare CysC-eGFR and sCr-eGFR, (2) assess their predictive value for early postoperative outcomes, and (3) investigate mechanisms which might explain potential discrepancies. Methods: A prospective cohort (n=116) with CysC and sCr concurrently measured at serial time points, and a retrospective cohort (n=91) with chest computed tomography performed within 40 days post-LVAD were studied. In the prospective cohort, the primary end point was a composite of in-hospital mortality, renal replacement therapy, or severe right ventricular failure. In the retrospective cohort, muscle mass was estimated using pectoralis muscle area indexed to body surface area (pectoralis muscle index). Results: In the prospective cohort, sCr-eGFR significantly improved early post-LVAD and subsequently declined, whereas CysC-eGFR remained stable. CysC-eGFR but not sCr-eGFR predicted the primary end point: odds ratio per 5 mL/(min·1.73 m 2 ) decrease 1.16 (1.02–1.31) versus 0.99 (0.94–1.05). In retrospective cohort, for every 5 days post-LVAD, a 6% decrease in pectoralis muscle index was observed (95% CI, 2%–9%, P =0.003). After adjusting for time on LVAD, for every 1 cm 2 /m 2 decrease in pectoralis muscle index, there was a 4% decrease in 30-day post-LVAD sCr (95% CI, 1%–6%, P =0.004). Conclusions: Initial improvement in sCr-eGFR is likely due to muscle wasting following LVAD surgery. CysC may improve assessment of renal function and prediction of early postoperative outcomes in patients with an LVAD.

Study Objective: Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is the gold-standard immunosuppressive agent in heart transplantation (HT), but dose-dependent toxicities (e.g., neutropenia) are frequent. Gut bacteria βd-glucuronidases (GUS) modulate MMF bioavailability, and changes in the intestinal flora may influence the pharmacokinetics of MMF. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MMF 1.5 g every 12 h (q12) [high-dose, HD] versus 1 g q12 [low-dose, LD] and explore the association between neutropenia and GUS. Measurements:We compared the incidence of acute cellular rejection (ACR) and neutropenia during the first 6 months post-HT. The association between neutropenia and GUS was investigated in an exploratory analysis on a subset of patients with prospectively collected stool data. Stool samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.Main Results: A total of 168 patients (120 MMF-HD, 48 MMF-LD; mean age 55.7 years, 79% male) were studied. Neutropenia occurred in 38.6% of patients at a median of 106 days. Freedom from neutropenia was lower in MMF-HD compared with MMF-LD (57% vs. 73%, p = 0.03). ACR (≥1R/1B) occurred in 37.5% of patients at a median of 20 [10-96] days, while high-grade ACR (≥2R/3A) occurred in 11.3% at a median of 14 [9-89] days. Freedom from ACR was similar between groups. MMF-LD was associated with more high-grade ACR (hazard ratio [HR] 3.47, 95% confidence interval[CI] 1.09-11.08, p = 0.03) during the first month, but less neutropenia (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.29-1.00, p = 0.05) between 1 and 6 months. GUS-producing bacteria were more abundant in neutropenic patients.Conclusions: MMF-LD was associated with higher rates of early high-grade ACR and lower rates of later neutropenia. Further studies are warranted to test whether temporal MMF dose adjustments and gut microbial composition could improve clinical outcomes post-HT.