Diagnosis

When there is clinical suspicion, several cultures are performed to detect possible micro-organisms in the blood (a minimum of two). The sample is taken by puncturing a vein in the arm, and the result of the culture identifies the microbe (bacteria or fungus) that is causing the infective endocarditis.

It is also necessary to conduct blood tests to check inflammation parameters and to see whether there are manifestations in other parts of the body.

To see the warts on the heart valves and whether they have been damaged, an imaging test called an echocardiogram must be performed. This test can be done by placing a probe into the chest, more specifically into the oesophagus via the mouth, in order to see these valves better, especially when they are prosthetic.

Hi ha altres proves especials que es poden emprar per diagnosticar aquesta malaltia en persones que tenen pròtesis valvulars o dispositius intracardíacs (marcapassos/desfibril·ladors), aquesta prova s'anomena tomografia per emissió de positrons (PET/CT).

There are other special tests that can be used to diagnose this disease in people who have prosthetic valves or intracardiac devices (pacemakers/defibrillators). This test is known as a positron emission tomography (PET-CT).