Nursing management of the parenteral drug abuser with infective endocarditis

Caring for the parenteral drug abuser with infective endocarditis is a challenge. In many ways, the nursing care needed for these patients differs from that needed by other patients with infective endocarditis. This article has identified some of the important considerations: maximizing the effectiveness of the treatment regimen, fostering patient adaptation to hospitalization, and planning for discharge to minimize the risk of recurrence. By understanding the nature of drug abuse and of infective endocarditis, and by understanding how they interact to create a particular set of problems in the parenteral drug abuser with infective endocarditis, the nurse can provide optimal nursing management for these patients.