[Infective endocarditis]

Abstract

The authors underline the recent increase in the incidence of infective endocarditis (IE) involving the right side of the heart, because of instrumental procedures and, above all drug-addiction. They describe the epidemiology, congenital and acquired predisposing heart diseases, the most common portals of entry of the infective agents, etiology, pathogenesis, pathology, cardiac and extracardiac clinical manifestations and complications, clinical and instrumental diagnosis, medical and surgical therapy, prognosis and prevention of disease.