Abstract:Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is still a fatal infection with high morbidity and mortality. Successful patient outcomes depend on prompt diagnosis and effective therapy. Blood cultures are usually time consuming and sometimes echocardiography is falsely negative. Thus, a straightforward blood test may assist early diagnosis of IE. Multiple studies have revealed that procalcitonin (PCT) was highly associated with bacteremia -the main diagnostic criteria for endocarditis -in patients with fever. Object… Show more
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