[How to diagnose infective endocarditis?]
Marianne M C Hendriks1,2, Madelon C E van den Heuvel3, A H M van Straten4
1Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, afd. Interne Geneeskunde, Nijmegen.
Insights
Infective endocarditis (IE) presents with diverse symptoms and can be fatal if missed. Early diagnosis through blood cultures and echocardiography is crucial for this increasing condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious infection of the heart's inner lining or valves.
- Its incidence is rising due to an aging population and increased use of cardiac devices.
- IE presents heterogeneously, often with subtle, non-specific symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the varied clinical manifestations of infective endocarditis.
- To emphasize the diagnostic challenges and importance of early detection.
Main Methods:
- Case report of three patients with infective endocarditis.
- Review of clinical presentations, diagnostic approaches, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Patients exhibited significantly different clinical manifestations of IE.
- Subtle presentations can delay diagnosis, increasing mortality risk.
Conclusions:
- Infective endocarditis requires a high index of suspicion due to its diverse presentations.
- Prompt diagnosis using blood cultures and echocardiography is vital for improving patient outcomes.
Abstract:
We report on three patients with infective endocarditis, which differ greatly in clinical manifestations. Infective endocarditis (IE) is defined by, a mostly bacterial, infection of a native or prosthetic heart valve, the endocardial surface or a cardiac device. It is a rare condition, but it's incidence is increasing because of an increased incidence of elderly patients with chronic disease and cardiac devices. IE is heterogeneous in aetiology, clinical manifestations, and course. It can involve almost any organ system. The presentation often remains subtle and varies with nonspecific symptoms ranging from a mild infection to septic shock and multiorgan failure. IE remains a highly mortal disease, since the diagnosis is missed often. A thorough anamnesis and physical examination can be helpful. Blood cultures prior to antibiotics and echocardiography are key diagnostic steps if there's a clinical suspicion of IE.
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