Jason Andrade, MD, Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, BC.
Aneez Mohamed, MD, Division of Cardiology, University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, BC.
Chris Rauscher, MD, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of British Columbia, Department of Medicine, Vancouver, BC.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare but potentially devastating clinical entity with a well-delineated pathogenesis. While previously thought to be a disorder of younger individuals, older adults now represent one of the highest risk groups for the acquisition of and adverse outcomes related to IE. Prior to focusing on the updated recommendations for IE prophylaxis and the rationale behind them, we briefly review the clinical aspects of IE in the general population, as well as special considerations for older adults.
Key words: endocarditis, prophylaxis, older adults, cardiovascular disease, antibiotics.
