Infective Endocarditis: Definition, Clinical Significance, and Overview
Infective Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardial surface of the heart, most often involving a heart valve. It is a cardiovascular disease entity that sits at the intersection of cardiology, infectious diseases, and cardiac surgery. It is commonly discussed in the context of fever with a new murmur, bacteremia, embolic events, or prosthetic valve complications. It is typically evaluated using blood cultures and echocardiography.