Learn About Endocarditis

What is the definition of Endocarditis?

Endocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). It is caused by a bacterial or, rarely, a fungal infection.

What are the alternative names for Endocarditis?

Valve infection; Staphylococcus aureus - endocarditis; Enterococcus - endocarditis; Streptococcus viridans - endocarditis; Candida - endocarditis

What are the causes of Endocarditis?

Endocarditis can involve the heart muscle, heart valves, or lining of the heart. Some people who develop endocarditis have a:

  • Birth defect of the heart
  • Damaged or abnormal heart valve
  • History of endocarditis
  • New heart valve after surgery
  • Parenteral (intravenous) drug use disorder or addiction
  • Long-term intravenous line in place

Endocarditis begins when germs enter the bloodstream and then travel to the heart.

  • Bacterial infection is the most common cause of endocarditis.
  • Endocarditis can also be caused by fungi, such as Candida.
  • In some cases, no cause can be found.

Germs are most likely to enter the bloodstream during:

  • Central venous access lines
  • Injection drug use, from the use of unclean (unsterile) needles
  • Recent dental surgery
  • Other surgeries or minor procedures to the breathing tract, urinary tract, infected skin, or bones and muscles
What are the symptoms of Endocarditis?

Symptoms of endocarditis may develop slowly or suddenly.

Fever, chills, and sweating are frequent symptoms. These sometimes can:

  • Be present for days before any other symptoms appear
  • Come and go, or be more noticeable at nighttime

You may also have fatigue, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, and aches and pains in the muscles or joints.

Other signs can include:

  • Small areas of bleeding under the nails (splinter hemorrhages)
  • Red, painless skin spots on the palms and soles (Janeway lesions)
  • Red, painful nodes in the pads of the fingers and toes (Osler nodes)
  • Shortness of breath with activity
  • Swelling of feet, legs, abdomen
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What are the current treatments for Endocarditis?

You may need to be in hospital to get antibiotics through a vein (IV or intravenously). Blood cultures and tests will help your provider choose the best antibiotic.

You will then need long-term antibiotic therapy.

  • People most often need therapy for 4 to 6 weeks to kill all the bacteria from the heart chambers and valves.
  • Antibiotic treatments that are started in the hospital will need to be continued at home.

Surgery to replace the heart valve is often needed when:

  • The infection is breaking off in little pieces, resulting in strokes or blockages of other arteries.
  • The person develops heart failure as a result of damaged heart valves.
  • There is evidence of more severe organ damage (such as heart damage).
Who are the top Endocarditis Local Doctors?
Thoracic Surgery | Cardiology
Thoracic Surgery | Cardiology

Loyola University Medical Center

2160 S 1st Ave, Suite 150, 
Maywood, IL 
 1.4 mi
Accepting New Patients

Edwin Mcgee is a Thoracic Surgeon and a Cardiologist in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Mcgee and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Cardiomyopathy, Infective Endocarditis, Endocarditis, Heart Transplant, and Heart Bypass Surgery. Dr. Mcgee is currently accepting new patients.

Infectious Disease
Infectious Disease

Loyola University Medical Center

2160 S 1st Ave, 
Maywood, IL 
 1.4 mi
Accepting New Patients

David Slade is an Infectious Disease provider in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Slade and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Osteomyelitis, Osteomyelitis in Children, Myelitis, and HIV/AIDS. Dr. Slade is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Interventional Cardiology | Cardiology
Interventional Cardiology | Cardiology

Loyola University Medical Center

2160 S 1st Ave, Suite 150, 
Maywood, IL 
 1.4 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Bruce Lewis is an Interventional Cardiologist and a Cardiologist in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Lewis and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Angina, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, Atherectomy, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. Lewis is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Endocarditis?

Getting treatment for endocarditis right away improves the chances of a good outcome.

More serious problems that may develop include:

  • Brain abscess
  • Further damage to the heart valves, causing heart failure
  • Spread of the infection to other parts of the body
  • Stroke, caused by small clots or pieces of the infection breaking off and traveling to the brain
When should I contact a medical professional for Endocarditis?

Contact your provider if you notice the following symptoms during or after treatment:

  • Blood in urine
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Fever that doesn't go away
  • Fever
  • Numbness
  • Weakness
  • Weight loss without change in diet
How do I prevent Endocarditis?

The American Heart Association recommends preventive antibiotics for people at risk for infectious endocarditis, such as those with:

  • Certain birth defects of the heart
  • Heart transplant and valve problems
  • Prosthetic heart valves (heart valves inserted by a surgeon)
  • Past history of endocarditis

These people should receive antibiotics when they have:

  • Dental procedures that are likely to cause bleeding
  • Procedures involving the breathing tract
  • Procedures involving the urinary tract system
  • Procedures involving the digestive tract
  • Procedures on skin infections and soft tissue infections
What are the latest Endocarditis Clinical Trials?
Retention and Re-Engagement in Treatment for Addiction Following Serious Injection Related Infections (RETAIN): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Study

Summary: This project is a pilot study of an adapted intervention of an existing Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment retention intervention called Recovery Management Checkups (RMC). This intervention has been adapted to better fit the experiences and unique issues of those that have been hospitalized with serious injection related infections (SIRI) based on the findings from a prior qualitative study from...

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3D Imaging (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) Versus Orthopantomogram on the Oral Health Status at 12 Months of Patients Hospitalized for Infective Endocarditis: a Multicenter Randomized Superiority Controlled Trial.

Summary: 1. Infective Endocarditis (IE) is a rare and serious disease with high morbidity and mortality; 2. Streptoccoci of oral origin are the second more frequent microorganisms responsible for IE; 3. Oral Infectious Foci (OIF) are underdetected using the current recommended clinical examination/Orthopantomogram (OPT) approach; 4. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has a better sensitivity and sensibil...

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: December 04, 2022
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Baddour LM, Anavekar NS, Crestanello JA, Wilson WR. Infectious endocarditis and infections of indwelling devices. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 80.

Baddour LM, Wilson WR, Bayer AS, et al. Infective endocarditis in adults: diagnosis, antimicrobial therapy, and management of complications: a scientific statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2015;132(15):1435-1486. PMID: 26373316 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26373316.

Fowler VG, Bayer AS, Baddour LM. Infective endocarditis. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 67.

Holland TL, Bayer AS, Fowler VG. Endocarditis and intravascular infections. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 80.