Attention: This is an archive version of the HELP CDSS for documentation purposes. It is neither updated nor actively maintained!
Risk factors for endocarditis present (see below)?
Indication for imaging/ultrasound (see below)?
Indication for FDG/PET-CT (see below)?

Explanatory Notes:
Indication for echocardiography:
Always indicated for:
  • community-acquired bacteremia,
  • cardiac risk factors present (cardiac foreign bodies, congenital heart disease, history of heart transplantation, history of endocarditis),
  • septic emboli,
  • vertebral osteomyelitis/osteomyelitis,
  • hemodialysis,
  • intravenous drug abuse.
Indication for imaging/ultrasound:
  • suspicion of intraabdominal focus e.g. abscess,
  • suspicion of pneumonia/empyema,
  • suspicion of deep (postoperative) wound infection
Consider FDG/PET-CT at an early stage in case of
  • positive blood cultures,
  • unknown focus,
  • clinical signs of septic dissemination (lung, head, abscess, etc.)