Blood Cultures

Abstract

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection, usually of bacterial aetiology, which can affect any part of the endovascular surface of the heart or large intrathoracic vessels but most commonly affects cardiac valves. Without treatment this condition is invariably fatal and even with treatment is associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. This article looks at the difficulties in diagnosing IE and the investigations used to confirm the diagnosis. It also lists the major causes of IE and its management.