Investigations

• Draw blood cultures: ^a take at least 3 separate sets ^c

Remember to change the needle before inoculating culture bottles! ^b  

• blood count ^c
• CRP ^c
• urea and electrolytes, creatinine ^c
• liver function tests ^c  
• save blood for serological investigation of 'culture negative' endocarditis ^c
  
  
• test urine for haematuria using a dipstick ^c
  
  
• ECG ^b  
• chest X-ray ^c  
• echocardiography (preferably transesophageal) looking for vegetations ^b