Two kinds of bacteria cause most cases of bacterial endocarditis. These are
staphylococci (staph) and streptococci (strep)
. You may be at increased risk for bacterial endocarditis if you have certain heart valve problems. This gives the bacteria an easier place to take hold and grow.
What is the main cause of endocarditis?
Endocarditis is
caused by bacteria in the bloodstream multiplying and spreading across the inner lining of your heart
(endocardium). The endocardium becomes inflamed, causing damage to your heart valves. Your heart is usually well protected against infection so bacteria can pass harmlessly by.
How does Staphylococcus aureus cause endocarditis?
aureus typically causes
acute endocarditis with damage to cardiac valves, embolisation of vegetation to extracardiac sites and progresses to death within weeks
if left untreated. There has been rising awareness in the medical literature about the potential risk of staphylococcal endocarditis in young patients with AD.
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.
What Gram positive bacteria causes endocarditis?
Gemella haemolysans, Streptococcus equinus and Tropheryma whipplei
are rare Gram-positive bacteria which may cause endocarditis and are associated with gastrointestinal disorders.
What is the survival rate of endocarditis?
Three problems hamper the prognosis of patients who survive the initial phase of infective endocarditis (IE): the rate of IE recurrence is 0.3-2.5/100 patient years, about 60% of patients will have to be operated on at some time, 20-30% during the initial stay, 30-40% during the following 5-8 years;
five-year survival
…
How do you confirm endocarditis?
Echocardiogram
. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce images of your heart while it’s beating. This test shows how your heart’s chambers and valves are pumping blood through your heart. Your doctor may use two different types of echocardiograms to help diagnose endocarditis.
Can you 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.
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 are the long term effects of endocarditis?
These clumps, called vegetations, can break loose and travel to your brain, lungs, abdominal organs, kidneys, or arms and legs. As a result, endocarditis can cause several complications, including:
Heart problems
, such as heart murmur, heart valve damage and heart failure. Stroke.
How fast does endocarditis develop?
There are two forms of infective endocarditis, also known as IE: Acute IE — develops suddenly and may become life threatening within days. Subacute or chronic IE (or subacute bacterial endocarditis) — develops
slowly over a period of weeks to several months
.
Why is it hard to treat endocarditis?
If the endocarditis is caused by a fungus, because
fungal infections
are harder to treat than bacterial infections. If the infection is not clearing with antibiotics, or if the bacteria causing the infection have become resistant to antibiotics. If the infection has damaged the heart valves.
What valve is affected by endocarditis?
Infective endocarditis develops most commonly on
the mitral valve
, closely followed in descending order of frequency by the aortic valve, the combined mitral and aortic valve, the tricuspid valve, and, rarely, the pulmonic valve. Mechanical prosthetic and bioprosthetic valves exhibit equal rates of infection.
Can endocarditis be treated with oral antibiotics?
Patients with endocarditis caused by common
bacteria can be treated effectively and safely with oral antibiotics once they have been stabilized on an
intravenous course of therapy, data from the POET trial suggest.
How is endocarditis prevented?
- Seeking professional dental care every six months.
- Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth.
- Making sure dentures fit properly.
Can dental work cause endocarditis?
Dental extraction or other dental procedures might cause
bacteremia
as well. As a result of dental treatment a small amount of patients contract bacterial endocarditis (EB). Developing bacterial endocarditis (EB) in valve diseases patients is statistically 1 every 3000 cases.
