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Infective Endocarditis Diagnosed by Emergency Physicians Using Cardiac POCUS: A Case Series
Jonathan Henry1,2, Mark Rugless3, Claudiu Radeanu3
1Bayside Health Melbourne Australia.
Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine
|August 2, 2026
Summary
Emergency physicians increasingly use cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to diagnose infective endocarditis (IE). This case series shows POCUS is a valuable tool for early IE detection in the emergency department.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Emergency physicians (EPs) are enhancing their skills in cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).
- Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious condition requiring timely diagnosis.
- POCUS offers a potential bedside tool for rapid IE assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the current practice of EPs diagnosing IE using POCUS.
- To review cases of IE diagnosed via POCUS in the Emergency Department (ED).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 19 IE cases diagnosed by Australasian EPs between 2013 and 2022.
- Analysis of patient demographics, affected valves, pathogens, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- The cohort was predominantly male (84%), with a mean age of 42.
- Intravenous drug use was common (79%), and left heart valves were frequently affected (68%).
- Mortality rate was 21%, with a mean hospitalization of 30 days.
Conclusions:
- EP-performed cardiac POCUS for IE diagnosis is increasing.
- Early POCUS diagnosis in the ED can reduce IE morbidity and mortality.
- Further research is needed to establish the sensitivity and specificity of EP-performed cardiac POCUS for vegetation identification.
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