Clinical manifestations of infective endocarditis (IE) may be limited to the heart or can involve extracardiac structures due to vascular-embolic and immune-mediated events. IE is associated with significant complications and mortality, many times due to a delay in detecting clinical infection.

"The diagnosis of IE can be challenging given the nonspecific nature of symptoms and the varying prodrome that may lead to patient presentation," write Rheana Harrilal, MD, MPH; Darshana Nair, MD; and Julia Grapsa, MD, PhD, FACC. "It is therefore crucial to have a high clinical suspicion for infection in those who are at greater risk, such as patients with congenital or valvular heart disease, prosthetic valves or intracardiac devices."

Read the full article in Cardiology.