• Cody F Newell, Rachel E Bridwell, Brannon L Inman, and Brit Long.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, 3551 Roger Brooke Dr, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234, United States. Electronic address: cody.f.newell@gmail.com.
• Am J Emerg Med. 2022 Oct 1; 60: 227.e5227.e7227.e5-227.e7.

AbstractInfective Endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon illness in the emergency department (ED) with significant associated morbidity. Patients with IE typically possess risk factors predisposing them to bacterial invasion. These risk factors include intravenous drug use, valvulopathies, valve replacement, poor oral hygiene, immunocompromised state, and recent invasive procedures. A rarer condition is tattoo-associated IE. Diagnosis of IE includes multiple blood cultures and echocardiography. Therapeutic interventions include prolonged intravenous antibiotics and potential surgery. Complications from IE can be severe, including organ injury from septic emboli, heart failure, valvular insufficiency, bacteremia, and fulminant septic shock. Prompt identification and treatment are necessary to reduce patient morbidity and mortality.Published by Elsevier Inc.

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