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Cardiovascular Infection

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Abstract

We are commonly consulted to manage infections involving the heart and blood vessels, including endocarditis, bacteremia, and thrombophlebitis. Consequences of cardiovascular infection include valve perforation, aortic root abscesses, and emboli which shower the brain—these are all potential life-threatening complications of endocarditis that keep our thoughts on the heart. Source control can sometimes be challenging and require close collaboration with colleagues in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery. These are great learning opportunities. I have wonderful memories of times spent in the echocardiography reading room, learning from brilliant attendings as they interpreted my patients’ scans.

In this chapter, we will discuss the interpretation of blood cultures, duration of therapy for bacteremia, and evolving diagnostic and therapeutic options for endocarditis.

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  1. Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Alexander M. Tatara

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Tatara, A.M. (2023). Cardiovascular Infection. In: The Infectious Diseases Consult Handbook. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39474-4_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39474-4_9

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