FEATURED Medical education topic: Infective Endocarditis

Infective endocarditis (IE) is an infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart lining, a heart valve, or blood vessel.  People with some heart conditions have a greater risk of developing it, and if left untreated, it is almost inevitably fatal. Early detection and appropriate management of this disease can be lifesaving.  Healthcare professionals need to teach patients at risk of developing IE about their symptoms and the risks of nonmedical invasive procedures, the benefits and risks of antibiotic prophylaxis, and the need to maintain good oral health. The primary care physician is in a key position to decrease the incidence of IE.  However, some physicians are unaware of their role in preventing IE or of the risk their patients face. It is important for physicians to know how to identify appropriate treatment strategies and duration for specific pathogens or types of endocarditis.

Proposed Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, the learners will be able to:

• Identify which patients require TTE and TEE for diagnosis of infective endocarditis
• Select antibiotic regimens and durations for infective endocarditis
• Know the role of surgical management for infective endocarditis

If your medical staff needs an update on infective endocarditis, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

References:

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/infective-endocarditis

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/10/6/03-0848_article

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37523190/