Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2025
An In Vitro Model of a Parallel-Plate Perfusion System to Study Bacterial Adherence to Graft Tissues
Published on: January 7, 2019
Infective endocarditis: it takes a team
Lawrence Lau1, Larry Baddour2, Núria Fernández Hidalgo3,4,5
1Division of Cardiology, University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin Street, K1Y 4W7 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Infective endocarditis (IE) management is complex due to changing patient demographics and pathogen profiles. A multidisciplinary team approach is recommended for better patient outcomes in this serious infection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious systemic infection with high mortality.
- Epidemiological shifts include older patients, prosthetic devices, comorbidities, virulent pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, and increased injection drug use.
- Limited clinical trials necessitate reliance on expert consensus and registry data for IE management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the rationale behind a multidisciplinary team-based approach for managing infective endocarditis.
- To highlight the potential benefits and evidence supporting this team approach in IE care.
- To discuss implementation strategies, feasibility, and options for multidisciplinary IE teams.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing investigations and patient outcome data related to IE management.
- Analysis of expert consensus and large registry findings guiding IE treatment strategies.
- Exploration of implementation strategies and feasibility of team-based care models.
Main Results:
- A multidisciplinary team approach has shown potential benefits in improving patient outcomes for infective endocarditis.
- Evidence from multiple investigations supports the efficacy of team-based IE management.
- Implementation strategies and feasibility factors for multidisciplinary teams have been identified.
Conclusions:
- A multidisciplinary team-based approach is recommended as the standard of care for infective endocarditis.
- This approach is crucial for navigating the complexities of modern IE patient management.
- Further research and implementation of team strategies can optimize IE treatment and patient survival.
Abstract:
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a relatively rare but life-threatening systemic infection, which remains associated with high morbidity and mortality. The epidemiology of IE has shifted to involve an increasing numbers of older patients with both cardiovascular and other types of prosthetic devices, multiple comorbid conditions often requiring invasive procedures, increasingly virulent pathogens, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, or that can harbour anti-microbial resistance, and an escalation of injection drug use in many areas of the world. In parallel, advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic options have led to complex strategies in patients' management. Despite these epidemiologic shifts, clinical trials have been rare and most of the evidence guiding IE management derives from expert consensus or analysis of large registries. Because of this, a multi-disciplinary IE team-based approach has been recommended as the standard of care. The aim of this review is to explore the rationale for a multi-disciplinary team-based approach to the management of IE. This approach has proved to be potentially beneficial based on multiple investigations that have evaluated patient outcomes. In addition, implementation strategies, feasibility and options of the team approach have also been highlighted.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:15Layers of the Heart Wall
The myocardium, the thickest layer, consists of cardiac muscle cells interconnected by intercalated discs and crisscrossing connective tissue fibers. These muscle fibers contract...
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...