Key priorities for the implementation of the 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of endocarditis in low-resource settings

Abstract

European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines provide best practice, evidence-based recommendations for diagnosing and treating patients with cardiovascular diseases. It is not always possible for best practices to be followed, however, particularly in low-resource settings. To address this issue, a set of guideline-related documents were created to identify key priorities for users in these settings. The documents highlight the related recommendations and describe key strategies for clinicians to approach implementation of these recommendations or discuss alternatives which are in line with the intention of the recommendations, if not having all of the same advantages. The suggestions cannot be used as exact substitutes for the original recommendations in the guidelines, which have not been altered and continue to reflect best practice. This document on key priorities for low-resource settings was developed by the task force chairs and other members of the task force who produced the 2023 ESC Guidelines for the management of endocarditis, which are freely available on the ESC website (https://www.escardio.org/Guidelines). This document also underwent external review including international experts from within and beyond Europe and ESC partner organizations, including the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (IASC), The Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology and the ASEAN Federation of Cardiology.

Keywords: Antibiotic; Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED); Echocardiography; Infective endocarditis; Low-resource settings; Recommendations.