What clinical finding is indicative of septic emboli in endocarditis?

In the context of endocarditis, the presence of splinter hemorrhages is particularly indicative of septic emboli. These are tiny blood vessels that can become damaged due to infection and can lead to the formation of small clots, or emboli, that travel from the heart to other parts of the body. When these emboli lodge in the small capillaries, such as those in the nail beds, they can cause tiny areas of bleeding that appear as dark lines under the nails, known as splinter hemorrhages.

The occurrence of these findings is associated with the embolic phenomenon that can take place in bacterial endocarditis, reflecting the systemic effects of the disease.

While fever and chills are common symptoms associated with infections generally and can be present in endocarditis, they are not specific to septic emboli. Osler nodes and Janeway lesions are also significant findings in endocarditis, but they are more related to immune complex deposition and direct effects of emboli rather than being direct indicators of septic emboli themselves. Thus, splinter hemorrhages stand out because they directly visualize the effects of embolization due to endocardial infection, enhancing the specific diagnostic consideration in suspected cases of endocarditis.