Optimising the prevention, diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is an infection of the valves or inner lining of the heart. In spite of advances in imaging, surgery and antibiotic management, it still carries a mortality rate of 25%. This thesis explores ways to refine the prevention, diagnosis and management of infective endocarditis. Optimised antibiotic dosing at the prevention and management stages is examined. Adjunct microbiological diagnostic methods are also investigated. Finally, existing national care models for infective endocarditis are reported and recommendations provided for improvement.