Evidence-based On-call

Infective endocarditis

Prevalence
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prevention
Prognosis

Prevalence

Infective endocarditis is uncommon ^b

, even in patients with bacteraemia ^c

or prosthetic valves ^a

- however, it can easily be missed ^c

Note:

Infective endocarditis occurs in 3% of patients with Staph. aureus bacteraemia. ^c
6% of patients with newly-inserted prosthetic valves develop infective endocarditis over 7 years. ^a
55% of cases of Staph. aureus infective endocarditis are diagnosed at autopsy or surgery ^c