PANCE Cardiology Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a major Duke criterion?

Positive blood culture Vegetation on echocardiogram Fever ≥ 38.0°C New valvular regurgitation

Correct Answer:

Fever ≥ 38.0°C

Explanation:

Infective endocarditis is diagnosed using the Duke criteria, which split findings into major and minor categories. Major criteria reflect strong evidence of infection of the endocardial surface: a typical organism in blood cultures (often in more than one culture) or positive cultures persistently, and imaging evidence of endocardial involvement such as vegetation seen on echocardiography or new-valve regurgitation. Fever, while common in many illnesses, is nonspecific and is classified as a minor criterion because it doesn’t by itself prove endocardial infection. Thus, fever ≥38.0°C is not a major Duke criterion. The other findings—positive blood cultures, vegetation on echocardiography, and new valvular regurgitation—are all major criteria.

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