Bridging specialties: repurposing platelet drugs prescribed by cardiologists to help infectious disease doctors treat <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> bacteremia

The platelet is the most important cell in the bloodstream in providing endovascular immunity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> bacteremia. Both quantitative and qualitative thrombocytopenia have been associated with increased mortality in patients with <i>S. aureus</i> bacteremia. Patients with end-stage renal disease are particularly vulnerable to both an increased risk of getting <i>S. aureus</i> 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 <i>S. aureus</i> 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 <i>S. aureus</i> 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 <i>S. aureus</i> endovascular infection.