Back
For best output, select "Paper Size" as "A4" and "Margin" as "0" or "None".
To save or print to PDF, please select Print Destination > Save as PDF, enable Background Graphics under "More Settings", then click "Save".
During the congress, E-Posters will be accessible to all participants on the congress website 24/7, as well as in the E-poster stations in the congress center.
Preparing your E-Poster
Please review the E-Poster format requirements carefully when preparing your E-Poster. Should your E-Poster not meet the mentioned requirements, it may not be displayed as described above.
E-Poster Submission Deadline
Please prepare and upload your E-Poster no later than March 14, 2026 11.59PM CET. After this date, you will no longer be able to prepare and upload your E-poster and it will not be displayed and accessible on the congress website.
Please follow the instructions below to input your abstract title.
Abstract titles should be brief and reflect the content of the abstract.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a heart valve infection with high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly among patients with comorbidities. Patients with renal failure particularly those undergoing hemodialysis (HD), are at high risk due to uremic immunosuppression, comorbid cardiovascular disease and the use of a dialysis access point, such as an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or a double-lumen catheter (DLC). The long-term use of dialysis access significantly increases the risk of infection. The pathophysiology of IE involves bacterial entry through the access point, adhesions, vegetation formation and heart valve damage. Treatment involves removing the haemodialysis access, administering antibiotics according to the results of sensitivity testing, and ensuring multidisciplinary collaboration. The standard for diagnosing IE is the Modified Duke Criteria.
Observational
Case I: A 30-year-old woman with renal failure undergoing routine HD was admitted with a fever and shortness of breath. She had been using DLC access for the past 2 months. Her body temperature was 38.1°C and no inflammation was observed at the DLC exit site. Laboratory examination revealed a leukocyte count of 24,050 x 10³/µL. Microbiology: Culture of the catheter tip revealed Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), which was resistant to vancomycin. Echocardiography revealed a large vegetation (2.3 x 1.06 cm) on the tricuspid valve, which supports the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE). Management: DLC removal and administration of intravenous ampicillin-sulbactam and gentamicin.
Case II: A 57-year-old man with renal failure undergoing HD was admitted with worsening shortness of breath and decreased consciousness (GCS E3V4M2) and a body temperature of 38.7°C. The dialysis access was an AVF in the left arm, cannulated using the buttonhole technique. Microbiology: Blood culture showed growth of Enterococcus faecalis, which was sensitive to ampicillin and vancomycin. Echocardiography revealed a large vegetation (up to 2.31 x 1.62 cm) on the mitral valve.
These two cases demonstrate an association between infected HD access and the development of IE in patients with rean failure undergoing HD. In both cases, the diagnosis of IE met the Modified Duke Criteria. Managing IE in these cases is challenging due to comorbidities, the risk of resistant organisms (MRSE in Case I) and the need for careful adjustment of the antibiotic dose. Prompt DLC removal and integrated, multidisciplinary management are essential for achieving the best possible outcomes.
Two cases of HD access-associated infective endocarditis have been reported. The first case involved a 30-year-old woman and the second a 57-year-old man. Both cases met the Modified Duke Criteria.
