Cardiovascular health relies on normal function of the heart valves. Dysfunction of the heart valves, called valvular heart disease (VHD), will result in heart failure. Patients experience shortness of breath, fatigue and fluid retention, and increased risk of premature death. The number of patients with VHD is increasing but still solid knowledge of the disease is sparse. Infection of the heart valves is a specific VHD called infective endocarditis and is a disease where bacteria destroy one or more heart valves, and 20% of patients die in the first 30 days of diagnosis. This project will examine how diagnostics (bacteria DNA testing from patients’ blood) and treatments (especially antibiotics) can be improved to help patients. The project will provide evidence for improvement of clinical outcomes for patients with VHD.