PENS Score: Prosthetic endocarditis bedside risk flags focusing on nosocomial organisms, embolic complications, and hemodynamic instability.
Assessment Tier
Lower
Score 0
Lower-risk profile, but prosthetic valve infection still warrants a low threshold for escalation.
Verified
Last Review: 2026-07-17
Use during early bedside triage when infection severity or treatment escalation is uncertain.
Support clinician judgement with a structured review of the highest-yield risk factors.
Standardise communication between admitting, ID, ICU, and pharmacy teams.
Prosthetic valve present (+2)
Early post-operative presentation (+2)
Nosocomial or healthcare-associated onset (+1)
Staphylococcal or fungal microbiology (+2)
Valve dehiscence or new conduction issue (+2)
Shock or severe heart failure (+3)
Interpret the result together with source control, microbiology, host factors, and trajectory.
Escalate imaging, cultures, or specialist review when the tool lands in a high-risk tier.
Reassess dynamically if the patient deteriorates or new microbiology becomes available.
This tool supports structured infectious-disease decision making but does not replace clinician judgement or local guideline pathways.
This OpiCalc infectious-disease entry reflects commonly used guideline criteria and bedside risk features used in contemporary clinical practice.
Last Comprehensive Review: 2026-07-17