What complications should be considered during short-term follow-up after completion of antimicrobial therapy?
In the short-term follow-up, patients should be monitored for development of several complications, including a relapse of IE, development or worsening of heart failure, and antibiotic toxicity. Every effort should be made to determine the cause of signs or symptoms of infection, and echocardiographic findings can support diagnosis of heart failure. If heart failure develops or worsens, the patient should be evaluated immediately for cardiac surgery, and aminoglycoside-related delayed ototoxicity should be monitored for.