Endocarditis, infective
Last updated: Thursday, 29, July, 2010
| Key Information | Appropriate Tests |
|---|---|
| Initial assessment (diagnosis) and monitoring | Three sets of blood cultures should be taken. Each set of blood cultures should be collected by a separate venepuncture. Urine microscopy and culture. FBC, blood film; CRP or ESR. Diagnostic imaging may also support or confirm the diagnosis of endocarditis. |
| If blood culture positive | MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of chosen antibiotics. |
| If blood culture negative | A number of organisms, especially Coxiella burnetii, Legionella spp, Chlamydia spp, Mycoplasma spp do not grow in blood cultures. Q fever antibodies, Legionella spp antibodies, Chlamydia antibodies, Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies; blood culture for mycobacteria. Molecular genetics - microbial |