What molecular techniques are used to diagnose infective endocarditis?
Several molecular techniques are used to diagnose infective endocarditis, such as 16S rDNA sequencing, real-time broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing directly from heart valve tissue, PCR amplification and direct sequencing of DNA from valve tissue, microbial diversity detection using cultivation-independent molecular techniques, and detection of bacterial DNA in cardiac vegetations by PCR. Additionally, techniques such as broad-range PCR and sequencing and detection of Coxiella burnetii cell components are also used. 