Endocarditis: effects of routine echocardiography during Gram-positive bacteraemia
F J Vos1, C P Bleeker-Rovers, P D Sturm
1Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. f.vos@aig.umcn.nl
Background:
Despite firm recommendations to perform echocardiography in high-risk patients with Gram-positive bacteraemia, routine echocardiography is not embedded in daily practice in many settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a regime including routine echocardiography results in better outcome.
Methods:
A total of 115 patients with Gram-positive bacteraemia and at least one risk factor for developing metastatic infection were prospectively included. Routine echocardiography was advocated and facilitated in these patients. Results were compared with a matched historical control group of 230 patients in whom echocardiography was performed at the discretion of the attending physician. Endocarditis was diagnosed according to the Duke criteria.
Results:
Echocardiography was performed more often in the study group (82 vs 27%, p.
Related Concept Videos
Endocarditis III: Medical Management
Endocarditis I: Introduction
Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System I:Echocardiography
Indications: Echocardiography is utilized to diagnose heart failure, valve disorders, and myocardial infarction. It also assesses cardiac structures' size, shape, and motion, evaluates...
