Infective endocarditis in the case of a patient with transposition of the great arteries

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a cyanotic congenital heart defect, which is usually diagnosed and corrected early in life. The study reports on a case of an 18-year-old male with TGA who developed infective endocarditis (IE). He went on to have a lengthy inpatient admission for intravenous antibiotic therapy and required cardiac surgery to remove the infection from his endocardial surface and had a pulmonary valve replacement. He was closely monitored and received care from clinical nurse specialists, as part of a multidisciplinary team. This case study highlights the integral role of clinical nurse specialists as a first port of contact for patients and their families to receive support, education and information through various stages of their lives.