A client is admitted with infective endocarditis. Which findings during the nursing assessment support this diagnosis? Select all that apply.

A. Skin petechiae: Small, pinpoint red or purple lesions on the skin, known as petechiae, are caused by embolic phenomena from vegetations on the heart valves. They are a classic peripheral manifestation of infective endocarditis and support the diagnosis. B. Friction rub heart sounds: A friction rub is associated with pericarditis, not endocarditis. It occurs when the pericardial layers rub against each other and is not a typical finding in infective endocarditis. C. Hypothermia: Infective endocarditis generally presents with fever due to systemic infection. Hypothermia is uncommon and would suggest another underlying condition rather than supporting endocarditis. D. Fever: Fever is the most common systemic manifestation of infective endocarditis. It results from the body’s inflammatory response to bacterial infection of the endocardial surfaces. Persistent or intermittent fevers are characteristic of this condition. E. New onset murmur: The development of a new heart murmur indicates valve damage or regurgitation caused by vegetations on the heart valves. This is a cardinal cardiovascular sign of infective endocarditis. F. Splinter hemorrhages on fingernails: Linear, reddish-brown lesions under the fingernails are caused by small emboli from valvular vegetations. Splinter hemorrhages are a classic peripheral sign supporting the diagnosis of infective endocarditis.