title: [Practice guidelines of the Spanish Society of Cardiology on endocarditis].
abstract: Infectious endocarditis is a disease which mainly involves the cardiac valves. It has a bad prognosis and is caused by a great variety of microorganisms. Prophylaxis is important although the effectiveness and the best way to achieve it remain unclear. Recommendations are herein presented. The diagnosis is based on clinical, bacteriological, and echocardiographic findings mainly based on Duke's criteria. Transthoracic and transesophageal echography are not only of diagnostic value but are also a tool to determine the therapy to follow. Antibiotic therapy should be selected according to the organisms isolated and their in vitro susceptibility. Guidelines for empirical antibiotic therapy in cases of negative cultures are also included. Lastly, indications and time for surgery are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Sociedad Española de Cardiología.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vallés
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anguita
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Escribano
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pérez Casar
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pousibet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tornos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vilacosta
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents