Management of Infective Endocarditis: A Scoping Review

Infective endocarditis continues to carry substantial mortality risk, with its epidemiology shifting from viridans streptococci as the most common cause to Staphylococcus aureus as the predominant pathogen, in part driven by increasing intravenous drug use and healthcare-associated infections. Optimal treatment depends on targeted antimicrobial therapy guided by blood culture results and susceptibility data. Management is further complicated in patients with prosthetic valves or intracardiac devices, as these infections are linked to higher mortality, more frequent complications, and increased rates of treatment failure.