Prophylaxis and treatment of infective endocarditis in adults: a concise guide
Open Access
- 1 November 2004
- journal article
- guideline
- Published by Elsevier in Clinical Medicine
- Vol. 4 (6) , 545-550
- https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.4-6-545
Abstract
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening disease with substantial morbidity and mortality which affects individuals with underlying structural cardiac defects who develop bacteraemia, often as a result of dental, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, respiratory or cardiac invasive/surgical procedures. Prompt recognition of the clinical diagnosis by a wide variety of medical personnel, early involvement of specialist cardiologists, cardiac surgeon and a microbiologist, and prompt treatment with the most appropriate antimicrobial agents offer the greatest chance of improving the outcome for these patients. The guidance given here to clinicians involved in the management of patients with IE briefly covers diagnosis, antibiotic prophylaxis, medical treatment and the indications for surgery.Keywords
This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: