Infective Endocarditis After Transcatheter versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement

Background: Scarce data are available comparing infective endocarditis (IE) following surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This study aimed to compare the clinical presentation, microbiological profile, management, and outcomes of IE after SAVR vs. TAVR. Methods: Data were collected from the "Infectious Endocarditis after TAVR International" (enrollment from 2005 to 2020) and the "International Collaboration on Endocarditis" enrollment from 2000 to 2012) registries. Only patients with an IE affecting the aortic valve prosthesis were included. A 1:1 paired matching approach was used to compare patients with TAVR and SAVR. Results: A total of 1688 patients were included. Of them, 602 (35.7%) had a surgical bioprosthesis (SB), 666 (39.5%) a mechanical prosthesis, 70 (4.2%) a homograft, and 350 (20.7%) a transcatheter heart valve. In the SAVR vs. TAVR matched population, the rate of new moderate or severe aortic regurgitation was higher in the SB group (43.4% vs. 13.4%, p < 0.001), and fewer vegetations were diagnosed in the SB group (62.5% vs. 82%, p < 0.001). Patients with a SB had a higher rate of perivalvular extension (47.9% vs.27%, p < 0.001) and Staphylococcus Aureus was less common in this group (13.4% vs. 22%, p = 0.033). Despite a higher rate of surgery in patients with SB (44.4% vs. 26.8%, p < 0.001), 1-year mortality was similar (SB: 46.5%, TAVR: 44.8%, log-rank p = 0.697). Conclusions: Clinical presentation, type of causative microorganism and treatment differed between patients with an IE located on SB compared to TAVR. Despite these differences, both groups exhibited high and similar mortality at 1-year follow-up.