RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Molecular technique identifies the pathogen responsible for culture negative infective endocarditis JF Heart JO Heart FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society SP e47 OP e47 DO 10.1136/hrt.2004.056762 VO 91 IS 6 A1 G Y Shin A1 R J Manuel A1 S Ghori A1 S Brecker A1 A S Breathnach YR 2005 UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/91/6/e47.abstract AB A case of culture negative endocarditis complicated by immune complex glomerulonephritis and severe aortic regurgitation necessitated aortic valve replacement. Empirical treatment with penicillin and gentamicin according to UK guidelines was started. The pathogen, Streptococcus sanguis, was later identified by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA. This molecular technique is likely to be of increasing importance in determining the aetiology of culture negative infective endocarditis, thus providing essential treatment and epidemiological information.