title: Molecular methods for diagnosis of infective endocarditis.
abstract: The culture of viable microorganisms from the blood or from cardiac tissue is currently the most important test for diagnosis of IE. This is followed by phenotypic identification methods used for taxonomic positioning of isolates. However, in those cases where the invading microorganism is difficult or impossible to culture (including instances of prior antimicrobial treatment), molecular methods provide the best means for detection. Molecular identification methods, either nucleic acid target or signal amplification alone or in combination with sequence analysis can offer a more specific and in some cases a more rapid alternative to the phenotypic methods. We propose revised Duke criteria of IE, including positive identification of an organism by molecular biology methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Kettegårds Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Gorm
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lisby
authors.forename: Ernö
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gutschik
authors.forename: David T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Durack
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D015336:Molecular Probe Techniques / Q000639:trends; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media