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Infective Endocarditis

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Evidence-Based Cardiology Consult

Abstract

Infective endocarditis is defined as infection of a heart valve or other cardiac tissue. This diagnosis has broadened beyond infections involving native cardiac tissue or prosthetic heart valves to include infections of implanted intracardiac devices. Despite progress in the ability to accurately diagnose infective endocarditis in the modern era, the outcomes are still quite poor with respect to its associated morbidity and mortality. The focus of this chapter will be to review the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and guideline-focused management of infective endocarditis and intracardiac device infections. In addition, the current recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis of infective endocarditis will be reviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, 2301 Erwin Road, 7412A Duke North, DUMC Box 3126, Durham, NC, 27712, USA

    Todd L. Kiefer MD

  2. Department of Medicine, Duke University Hospital, DUMC 3428, Durham, NC, 27710, USA

    Andrew Wang MD

Authors
  1. Todd L. Kiefer MD
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  2. Andrew Wang MD
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Correspondence to Todd L. Kiefer MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine,, Stony Brook University, School of Medicine,, Stony Brook, USA

    Kathleen Stergiopoulos

  2. Division of Cardiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    David L. Brown

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Kiefer, T.L., Wang, A. (2014). Infective Endocarditis. In: Stergiopoulos, K., Brown, D. (eds) Evidence-Based Cardiology Consult. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4441-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4441-0_6

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