Infective Endocarditis

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Infective Endocarditis


Organisms

Presentation

History

Risk Factors

  • prosthetic valves (account for 1/3 of cases)
  • IV drug use
    • right-sided (tricuspid)
    • young male
    • no known heart disease
    • short history
    • complicated by pulmonary infarction

Sub-acute

  • gradual onset
  • previous dental / surgical procedures
  • sweats
  • chills / rigors (rarely)
  • general malaise
  • anorexia
  • weight loss
  • aching joints
  • symptoms of CVA
  • Past medical history

Examination

General

CVS

Abdomen

Urinalysis

  • miscroscopic haematuria and proteinuria

Investigations

  • blood cultures 6x
  • echocardiography
  • FBC
    • mild normochromic, normcytic anaemia
  • ESR elevated
  • U&E

Diagnosis

Dukes Criteria

Diagnosis Requires 2 major, 1 major and 3 minor or 5 minor

  • Major
    • positive blood culture
      • typical organism in 2 blood cultures
      • persistently positive blood cultures (>12 hours apart, 3 or majority of 4)
    • endocardium involvement
      • positive echocardiogram
        • vegetation
        • abscess
        • dehiscence of prosthetic valve
      • new valvular regurgitation
  • Minor
    • Predisposition
      • cardiac lesion
      • IV drug use
    • Fever >38ºC
    • Vascular / Immunological phenomena
    • Positive blood cultures not meeting major criteria
    • Positive echocardiogram not meeting major criteria

Culture Negative Endocarditis

Treatment

  • Underlying infection
  • IV antibiotics
    • bactericidal according to cultures
  • Surgery
    • extensive valve damage
    • prosthetic valve infection
    • severe heart failure

Complications

 

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