Which criteria are used to establish the diagnosis of infective endocarditis?

The Modified Duke Criteria are specifically designed to establish the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. This set of criteria includes both major and minor criteria, which help clinicians assess the likelihood of endocarditis based on clinical findings, blood cultures, and echocardiographic evidence. The major criteria include positive blood cultures from two separate sites and evidence of endocardial involvement seen on echocardiography. The minor criteria comprise predisposing heart conditions, fever, vascular phenomena, and immunologic phenomena. Using this structured approach allows for a more standardized and accurate diagnosis of infective endocarditis, leading to timely and appropriate management.

Other sets of criteria such as the Revised Jones Criteria are used to diagnose rheumatic fever, while the Boston Criteria pertain to the diagnosis of various cardiovascular conditions, and the New York Heart Association Criteria are primarily focused on classifying the severity of heart failure. None of these options serve the specific purpose of diagnosing infective endocarditis as effectively as the Modified Duke Criteria do.