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Prevalence Clinical features Investigations Therapy Prevention Prognosis

Therapy Give antibiotics a immediately if endocarditis is strongly suspected a, otherwise once there is a positive blood culture c   Give combination therapy commonly an aminoglycoside and a broad-spectrum pencillin) c preferably intravenously c for at least 2 weeks c  (and probably for longer) Ask a cardiac surgeon for an opinion if any of the following are present: b Left ventricular failure Recurrent embolism Uncontrolled infection

Expiry date: July 2003
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides