Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) represent one of the major public health problems; ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in people over 45 years of age, followed by stroke (CVA). Atherosclerosis is the major pathogenic mechanism associated with both diseases and it involves lipid accumulation in the vascular endothelium, resulting from complex molecular and cellular responses that may be described as progressive and chronic inflammatory disease associated with infection. Objective: To update the knowledge on molecular aspects and involvement of infections and inflammatory re- sponse in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic plaque. Methods: The literature available in English and Spanish published between 1978 and 2012 was reviewed. Using key terms cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, inflammation and infection and their equivalents in Spanish, Medline was accessed, division Highwire Library of Stanford University and the Virtual Health Library, further physical information was acquired in local libraries. The unit of analysis was the association between infection and atherosclerotic disease. Results: The available literature contains numerous scientific evidences to support from a molecular level, the involvement of infections in the development of atherosclerotic diseases through inflammatory mechanisms of endothelial injury. Conclusion: Infections arise as emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease and it is necessary to increase the level of knowledge about specifi c infec