Infective endocarditis

Big picture

Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening infection of the endocardial surface, usually involving the heart valves, producing infected vegetations made of fibrin, platelets, microorganisms, and inflammatory material. Clinically, think of it when a patient has:

fever + risk factor + new/changing murmur ± embolic/immune signs

The examiner usually wants three core points:

1. Diagnosis = blood cultures + echocardiography + Duke criteria
2. Treatment = prolonged intravenous bactericidal antibiotics
3. Surgery is needed if heart failure, uncontrolled infection, or embolic risk

Current major guidelines emphasize multidisciplinary management, early