My Patient with Infective Endocarditis (IE) Has Negative Blood Cultures

 - Did they receive antibiotics prior to cultures?

   -> Decreased yield due to antibiotic therapy - Number one cause of culture negative IE

 - Could they have a fastidious bacteria? Eg: C. burnetii , Bartonella, Brucella, Tropheryma

   -> Serological Testing   

 - Could this be a non-bacterial pathogen? Fungal (Histoplasma/Aspergillus) / Mycobacterial etc.

   -> Serological Testing

 - Is the patient a surgical candidate?

   -> Serological Testing

   -> Histopathology



Dr. Ahmed Babiker @Ahmed_HBabiker



#Infective #Endocarditis #Negative #BloodCultures #Diagnosis #Management #Algorithm