What is required for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis according to the Duke Criteria?

The correct criteria for diagnosing infective endocarditis, according to the Duke Criteria, necessitates the presence of either two major criteria, or one major and three minor criteria, or five minor criteria. Therefore, the diagnosis can indeed be made by combining different types of criteria.

For the diagnosis to include "one major and three minor criteria," this combination highlights the flexibility in the application of the Duke Criteria. Major criteria typically involve definitive evidence of endocarditis, such as positive blood cultures or evidence of a new valvular regurgitation on echocardiogram. Minor criteria include predisposing heart conditions, fever, vascular phenomena, or immunological phenomena, among others.

Utilizing a combination of one major criterion and three minor criteria allows for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis even when the definitive evidence (major criteria) is not as robust or when a patient may present with less typical symptoms that still meet the necessary criteria. This system helps clinicians adequately identify cases of infective endocarditis in a variety of clinical contexts, ensuring prompt and effective management of the condition.