What is the pathogenesis of infective endocarditis?

The pathogenesis of infective endocarditis is a complex process that re- quires at least three critical elements: preparation of the cardiac valve for bacterial colonization; adherence of circulating bacteria to the prepared valvular surface; survival of adherent bacteria, with propagation of the endocardial vegetation …

What are the pathological process characteristics of infective endocarditis?

Infective endocarditis is an endovascular microbial infection of cardiovascular structures, including large intrathoracic vessels and intracardiac foreign bodies. The characteristic lesions consist of vegetations composed of platelets, fibrin, microorganisms, and inflammatory cells, as well as leaflet disruption.

What is endocarditis pathology?

Endocarditis, inflammation of the heart lining, or endocardium. Endocarditis is caused by any of a number of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, rickettsias, and possibly viruses, that enter the bloodstream and become trapped in the heart.

How does infective endocarditis occur?

Endocarditis occurs when germs, usually bacteria, enter your bloodstream, travel to your heart, and attach to abnormal heart valves or damaged heart tissue. Fungi or other germs also may cause endocarditis. Usually, your immune system destroys any harmful bacteria that enter your bloodstream.

What antibiotics treat endocarditis?

Initial empiric therapy in patients with suspected endocarditis should include vancomycin or ampicillin/sulbactam (Unasyn) plus an aminoglycoside (plus rifampin in patients with prosthetic valves). Valve replacement should be considered in selected patients with infectious endocarditis.

What is the most common type of endocarditis?

Bacterial. Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of infective endocarditis in most parts of the world and is responsible for about 31% of cases. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause of endocarditis in people who use intravenous drugs.

Can you fully recover from endocarditis?

Most people who are treated with the proper antibiotics recover. But if the infection isn’t treated, or if it persists despite treatment (for example, if the bacteria are resistant to antibiotics), it’s usually fatal.

Can antibiotics cure endocarditis?

Many people with endocarditis are successfully treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, surgery may be needed to fix or replace damaged heart valves and clean up any remaining signs of the infection.

How serious is endocarditis?

Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart and heart valves. The condition is sometimes called infective endocarditis, and it can damage your heart, causing serious complications. Though infective endocarditis is potentially life threatening, most people who are treated with antibiotics recover.

How is endocarditis treated?

Many cases of endocarditis are successfully treated with antibiotics. Sometimes, surgery may be required to fix damaged heart valves and clean up any remaining signs of the infection.

What are symptoms of bacterial heart infection?

Endocarditis is often caused by the growth of bacteria on one of the heart valves, leading to a mass known as a vegetation. Symptoms can be nonspecific and include fever, malaise, shortness of breath, and weakness.

What is SBE prophylaxis?

SBE prophylaxis. Subacute bacterial endocarditis (sub-ah-cute back-teer-ee-al en-doe-car-dye-tis) is an infection of the inner lining of the heart and the heart valves. Prophylaxis means something done to prevent an illness. So SBE prophylaxis is used to lower the risk of heart damage prior…