Skip navigation
MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You U.S. National Library of MedicineNational Institutes of Health
Contact Us FAQs Site Map About MedlinePlus
español Home Health Topics Drug Information Medical Encyclopedia Dictionary News Directories Other Resources

 

Medical Encyclopedia

Other encyclopedia topics:  A-Ag  Ah-Ap  Aq-Az  B-Bk  Bl-Bz  C-Cg  Ch-Co  Cp-Cz  D-Di  Dj-Dz  E-Ep  Eq-Ez  F  G  H-Hf  Hg-Hz  I-In  Io-Iz  J  K  L-Ln  Lo-Lz  M-Mf  Mg-Mz  N  O  P-Pl  Pm-Pz  Q  R  S-Sh  Si-Sp  Sq-Sz  T-Tn  To-Tz  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  0-9 

Infectious endocarditis

Printer-friendly versionEmail this page to a friend
Contents of this page:

Illustrations

Heart, section through the middle
Heart, section through the middle
Heart, front view
Heart, front view
Infective endocarditis
Infective endocarditis
Janeway lesion on the finger
Janeway lesion on the finger

Alternative names    Return to top

Endocarditis - infectious

Definition    Return to top

Infectious endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart chambers and heart valves caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other infectious agents.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors    Return to top

Infectious endocarditis is an inflammation of the heart valves. It can affect the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the lining of the heart (pericarditis). Most people who develop infectious endocarditis have underlying heart disease.

The infection may be bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), which is common during dental, upper respiratory, urologic, and lower gastrointestinal diagnostic and surgical procedures. The infection can cause growths on the heart valves, the lining of the heart, or the lining of the blood vessels. These growths may form clots that break off and travel to the brain, lungs, kidneys, or spleen.

Many bacteria can cause endocarditis, but an organism commonly found in the mouth, Streptococcus viridans, is responsible for approximately half of all bacterial endocarditis. Other common organisms include staphylococcus and enterococcus. Less common organisms include pseudomonas, serratia, candida, and many others.

Symptoms of endocarditis may develop slowly (subacute) or suddenly (acute). Fever is a hallmark of both. In the slower form, fever may be present on a daily basis for months before other symptoms appear. Other symptoms are nonspecific, such as fatigue, malaise (general discomfort), headache, and night sweats. As the illness progresses, small dark lines, called splinter hemorrhages, may appear under the fingernails.

The health care provider may hear changing murmurs in the heart and detect an enlarged spleen and mild anemia. Murmurs result from changes in blood flow across valves when clumps of bacteria, fibrin and cellular debris, called vegetations, collect on the heart valves. The mitral valve is most commonly affected, followed by the aortic valve.

Preexisting conditions that increase the likelihood of developing endocarditis include:

Since Streptococcus viridans is often found in the mouth, dental procedures are the most common cause of bacterial endocarditis. This can put children with congenital heart conditions at risk. As a result, it is common practice for children with some forms of congenital heart disease to start on antibiotics prior to any dental work.

Symptoms    Return to top

Signs and tests    Return to top

A history of congenital heart disease raises the level of suspicion. A physical examination may show an enlarged spleen. The examiner may detect a new heart murmur, or a change in a previous heart murmur. Examination of the nails may show splinter hemorrhages. Eye examination may show retinal hemorrhages with a central area of clearing, called Roth's spots.

The following tests that may be performed:

Treatment    Return to top

Hospitalization is required initially to administer intravenous antibiotics. Long-term, high-dose antibiotic therapy is required to eradicate the bacteria from the heart chambers and vegetations on the valves. Therapy up to 6 weeks is not uncommon. The chosen antibiotic must be specific for the organism causing the condition. This is determined by the blood culture and the sensitivities tests.

If heart failure develops as a result of damaged heart valves, surgery to replace the affected heart valve may be indicated.

Expectations (prognosis)    Return to top

Early treatment of bacterial endocarditis generally has a good outcome. Heart valves may be damaged if diagnosis and treatment is delayed.

Complications    Return to top

Calling your health care provider    Return to top

Call your health care provider if you note the following symptoms during or after treatment:

Prevention    Return to top

Preventive antibiotics are often given to people with predisposing congenital or valvular abnormalities before dental procedures or surgeries involving the respiratory, urinary or intestinal tract. Continued medical follow-up is advised for people with a previous history of infective endocarditis.

Intravenous drug users are also at risk for this condition because unsterile injecting practices increase the exposure of the bloodstream to infectious agents. Treatment for addiction should be sought. If this is not possible, use of a new needle for each injection, avoiding sharing any injection-related paraphernalia and use of alcohol pads to sterilize the injection site can reduce risk.

Update Date: 4/14/2004

Updated by: Daniel Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

adam.com logo

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.