Practice variation in treatment of suspected asymptomatic bacteriuria prior to cardiac surgery: are there differences in postoperative outcome?
The risk of haematogenous spread of bacteria seems to be non-existent in this large cohort of non-treated patients, under our local clinical practice. Based on this current, best available evidence, it seems therefore safe not to treat patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria prior to cardiothoracic surgery. This could also imply that it is safe not to perform routine preoperative urine testing.
Our study is the first to demonstrate that ECFCs can give rise to smooth muscle-like progeny, with potential therapeutic benefits. These findings further illustrate that ECFCs are highly plastic, which by itself has implications for therapeutical use.