Guidelines
Infective Endocarditis (IE)

Infective Endocarditis (IE)

Diagnosis

  • ECHO should be performed as soon as possible in all cases of suspected IE 
  • TEE preferred over TTE

Treatment Considerations

  • Do not initiate antibiotics in patients who are hemodynamically stable until blood cultures are obtained
  • Repeat blood cultures q24-48 hours following initiation of therapy until infection has cleared
  • The counting of days for duration of antimicrobial therapy begin on the FIRST day on which blood cultures are NEGATIVE in cases in which blood cultures were initially positive
  • In cases where valvular surgery is performed, treatment duration is based upon resected valve tissue culture and whether perivalvular abscess is found

Reference

Baddour LM et. al. Infective Endocarditis in Adults: Diagnosis, Antimicrobial Therapy, and Management of Complications. Circulation (2015); 132: 1435-1468.