Bridging specialties: repurposing platelet drugs prescribed by cardiologists to help infectious disease doctors treat Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

The platelet is the most important cell in the bloodstream in providing endovascular immunity against Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. Both quantitative and qualitative thrombocytopenia have been associated with increased mortality in patients with S. aureus bacteremia. Patients with end-stage renal disease are particularly vulnerable to both an increased risk of getting S. aureus bacteremia and endocarditis, but also in treatment failure resulting in prolonged infection and relapse. In this commentary, we highlight the important host-pathogen relationship between S. aureus and the human platelet. In particular, we describe virulence factor-mediated platelet clearance from the circulation and improvement in platelet counts as a marker of treatment success. P2Y12 inhibitors deployed in the treatment of cardiovascular disease have been shown to attenuate the effect of S. aureus on platelet clearance. Therefore, we believe that partnerships between investigators in cardiology, hematology, and infectious disease with particular focus on platelet pathophysiology are poised to improve outcomes in select patients with S. aureus endovascular infection.