Diagnostic Considerations
Using the modified Duke Criteria (see Workup), the diagnosis of endocarditis is based on pathologic or clinical findings.[3] Pathologic criteria for definite infectious endocarditis include microorganisms on cultures or histology in a vegetation or histologic confirmation of active disease in a vegetation or intracardiac abscess.
Differential Diagnoses
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Acute Myelocytic Leukemia
- Collagen-Vascular Disease
- Heart Failure, Congestive
- Kawasaki Disease
- Meningitis, Bacterial
- Myocarditis
- Pneumonia
- Rheumatic Fever
- Vasculitis and Thrombophlebitis
Baddour LM, Wilson WR, Bayer AS, Fowler VG Jr, Bolger AF, Levison ME, et al. Infective endocarditis: diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, and management of complications: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Committee on Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Councils on Clinical Cardiology, Stroke, and Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, American Heart Association: endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Circulation. Jun 14 2005;111(23):e394-434. [Medline].
Wilson W, Taubert KA, Gewitz M, Lockhart PB, Baddour LM, Levison M, et al. Prevention of infective endocarditis: guidelines from the American Heart Association: a guideline from the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group. Circulation. Oct 9 2007;116(15):1736-54. [Medline].
Li JS, Sexton DJ, Mick N, Nettles R, Fowler VG Jr, Ryan T, et al. Proposed modifications to the Duke criteria for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Clin Infect Dis. Apr 2000;30(4):633-8. [Medline].
Habib G. Management of infective endocarditis. Heart. Jan 2006;92(1):124-30. [Medline]. [Full Text].
Gerber MA, Baltimore RS, Eaton CB, Gewitz M, Rowley AH, Shulman ST, et al. Prevention of rheumatic fever and diagnosis and treatment of acute Streptococcal pharyngitis: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, the Interdisciplinary Council on Functional Genomics and Translational Biology, and the Interdisciplinary Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research: endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Circulation. Mar 24 2009;119(11):1541-51. [Medline].
Thornhill MH, Dayer MJ, Forde JM, et al. Impact of the NICE guideline recommending cessation of antibiotic prophylaxis for prevention of infective endocarditis: before and after study. BMJ. May 3 2011;342:d2392. [Medline]. [Full Text].

