要約

• Presentation is often non-specific and most commonly includes fever.
• Historical sources of bacteraemia should be considered, such as indwelling vascular catheters, recent dental work, and intravenous drug use.
• Symptoms are often subtle and examination is often unrevealing, but may demonstrate cardiac murmur, peripheral emboli, Osler nodes, Roth spots, or Janeway lesions.
• Three sets of blood cultures should be obtained prior to initiation of antibiotic therapy.
• An echocardiogram should be obtained in all suspected cases.
• Treatment is guided by presentation, clinical findings, and organism virulence.