Guidelines
Culture Negative Endocarditis

Culture Negative Endocarditis

Evaluate

  • Epidemiological factors
  • History of prior infections including cardiovascular infections
  • Exposure to antimicrobials
  • Clinical course
  • Severity
  • Extra-cardiac sites of infection

Infectious Diseases consult recommended.

Reasons for Negative Cultures

Cultures are negative in infective endocarditis for three major reasons:

  • Administration of antimicrobial agents prior to obtaining blood cultures
  • Inadequate microbiological techniques
  • Infection with highly fastidious bacteria or non-bacterial pathogens (eg, fungi)