A Scoring System for Staphylococcal Bacteremia

Based on analysis of 678 patients with staphylococcal bacteremia, researchers developed a two-step clinical scoring system to assess the risk for infective endocarditis.

Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) may result in infective endocarditis (IE). Although transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is considered the diagnostic imaging modality of choice to evaluate for IE in adults, it is expensive and invasive, and whether it is indicated in every patient with SAB remains unclear. In a study involving 678 adults with SAB seen at the Mayo Clinic Rochester between July 2006 and June 2011, researchers sought to develop a simple clinical scoring system that, by predicting the likelihood of IE, could guide the use of TEE in the management of SAB.

A scoring system based on two time points — day 1 (the day of SAB diagnosis) and day 5 — was developed and a score calculated based on three criteria: presence of an in…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

A Scoring System for Staphylococcal Bacteremia

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Reviewing Author