Inflammatory Response in Infective Endocarditis

Abstract

Endocarditis remains a devastating disease with a high mortality despite timely diagnosis and treatment. The mainstays of treatment include appropriate antibiotics and when indicated, removal of the septic focus. This sounds extremely simple and belies the necessity for a sophisticated multidisciplinary approach to its treatment, the success of which depends not just on the right antibiotic at the right dosage via the right portal, but also on a profound understanding of the inflammatory and infective pathophysiology at work. This review aims at assisting both the clinician and the lab-based physician in the task.