Infective endocarditis

Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a highly complex multisystem disease of cardiovascular structures, mostly caused by bacteria. Despite technological advances in diagnosis and treatment, it is still associated with a mortality rate of up to 20%. The diagnostics and treatment require the involvement of an interdisciplinary endocarditis team. Antimicrobial treatment is a recognized method for IE, although up to 50% of treated patients require a surgical intervention in the course of treatment. The three main indications for early surgery are progressive cardiac failure, uncontrolled infection through to septic shock, and prevention of systemic embolization. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current guidelines on the diagnostics and treatment of IE.