Adherence to 2015 ESC Guidelines for the Treatment of Infective Endocarditis: A Retrospective Multicentre Study (LEIOT Study)

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a severe disease with elevated morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the last European guidelines (GL) date back to 2015, and a recent survey described a diffuse suboptimal adherence to their recommendations. Here, we described a real-life scenario about adherence to IE treatment GL. Methods: This was a retrospective, multicentric, case–control study. All the cases of IE admitted to our wards from 2016 to 2020 were enrolled. Patients were divided into two groups, according to the non-adherence (group A, cases) or adherence (group B, controls) to 2015 ESC guidelines. Only targeted treatments were considered. Groups were compared for demographic, clinical, microbiological, and laboratory data and outcome. As a post hoc analysis, we analysed the characteristics of deviations from the guidelines and how these deviations affected mortality. Results: A total of 246 patients were enrolled, with 128 (52%) in group A and 118 (48%) in group B. Groups were homogeneous except for aetiologies: staphylococcal and blood-culture-negative IE were more frequent in group A, while streptococcal and enterococcal IE were more frequent in group B (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was comparable in the two groups. The most frequent causes of deviations from the guidelines were use of daptomycin, in addition to standard treatments and the missing administration of rifampin or gentamycin. Conclusions: Adherence to 2015 ESC guidelines was limited but it did not affect mortality.