Reduced valve replacement surgery and complication rate in Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis patients receiving acetyl-salicylic acid

SummaryObjectivesTo assess the influence of acetyl-salicylic acid (ASA) on clinical outcomes in Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis (SA-IE).MethodsThe International Collaboration on Endocarditis – Prospective Cohort Study database was used in this observational study. Multivariable analysis of the SA-IE cohort compared outcomes in patients with and without ASA use, adjusting for other predictive variables, including: age, diabetes, hemodialysis, cancer, pacemaker, intracardiac defibrillator and methicillin resistance.ResultsData were analysed from 670 patients, 132 of whom were taking ASA at the time of SA-IE diagnosis. On multivariable analysis, ASA usage was associated with a significantly decreased overall rate of acute valve replacement surgery (OR 0.58 [95% CI 0.35–0.97]; p < 0.04), particularly where valvular regurgitation, congestive heart failure or periannular abscess was the indication for such surgery (OR 0.46 [0.25–0.86]; p < 0.02). There was no reduction in the overall rates of clinically apparent embolism with prior ASA usage, and no increase in hemorrhagic strokes in ASA-treated patients.ConclusionsIn this multinational prospective observational cohort, recent ASA usage was associated with a reduced occurrence of acute valve replacement surgery in SA-IE patients. Future investigations should focus on ASA's prophylactic and therapeutic use in high-risk and newly diagnosed patients with SA bacteremia and SA-IE, respectively.