Infective endocarditis.
Despite major changes in the epidemiology, microbiology, and prognosis over the last 50 years, the diagnosis of infective endocarditis is still difficult, and serious complications including death are not uncommon. Prosthetic and right-sided valvular infections are more common and require longer periods of vigorous antimicrobial therapy than in the past. An effective short-course antibiotic regimen has been designed for sensitive microorganisms, and protocols have been established for culture-negative cases (15 percent) and empiric situations. Finally, cardiac surgery should be considered as an important modality, especially in cases of congestive heart failure.
D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial; D006801:Humans