[Diagnostic approach to infectious endocarditis]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Imaging
• Microbiology

Background:

• Infective endocarditis diagnosis traditionally relies on clinical evaluation and microbiological cultures.
• Limitations exist in classical diagnostic methods for detecting certain microorganisms and complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in diagnostic approaches for infective endocarditis.
• To highlight the impact of new imaging and molecular techniques on diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on infective endocarditis diagnostics.
• Focus on innovations in cardiac imaging (echocardiography, MRI, CT).
• Emphasis on molecular microbiological techniques (e.g., PCR, sequencing).

Main Results:

• Advanced imaging improves detection of cardiac device infections, local complications, and systemic embolism.
• Molecular methods identify previously neglected microorganisms, enhancing etiological diagnosis.
• Despite technological progress, definitive diagnosis often requires integrating clinical findings.

Conclusions:

• Modern imaging and molecular microbiology have significantly improved infective endocarditis diagnosis.
• A high index of clinical suspicion remains indispensable for timely and accurate diagnosis.
• Multimodality diagnostic strategies are essential for managing infective endocarditis effectively.