Applying the Duke criteria for infective endocarditis
| Definite infective endocarditis: Confirmed by pathology studies Meets 2 major Duke criteria Meets 1 major and 3 minor criteria Meets 5 minor clinical criteria |
| Possible infective endocarditis: Meets 1 major and 1–2 minor criteria Meets 3–4 minor criteria |
| Rules out infective endocarditis: Pathology studies negative An alternative diagnosis is present Rapid clinical improvement within 4 days of starting antibiotic treatment |