Podcast
Questions and Answers
What are common clinical manifestations of acute endocarditis?
What are common clinical manifestations of acute endocarditis?
Severe febrile illness, changing heart murmurs, and petechiae are common manifestations.
How does partially treated acute endocarditis differ from subacute endocarditis?
How does partially treated acute endocarditis differ from subacute endocarditis?
Partially treated acute endocarditis exhibits similar characteristics to subacute endocarditis in its clinical presentation.
What is the role of echocardiography in diagnosing endocarditis?
What is the role of echocardiography in diagnosing endocarditis?
Echocardiography can detect abscesses and vegetations associated with endocarditis.
What is the indication for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients at risk of infective endocarditis?
What is the indication for antibiotic prophylaxis in patients at risk of infective endocarditis?
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What are the indications for cardiac surgery in the context of infective endocarditis?
What are the indications for cardiac surgery in the context of infective endocarditis?
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List two organisms that can cause endocarditis, particularly in a post-operative scenario.
List two organisms that can cause endocarditis, particularly in a post-operative scenario.
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What are common findings on an ECG for patients with suspected endocarditis?
What are common findings on an ECG for patients with suspected endocarditis?
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What empirical treatment is advised for acute endocarditis before the identification of the organism?
What empirical treatment is advised for acute endocarditis before the identification of the organism?
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What is the significance of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in endocarditis management?
What is the significance of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in endocarditis management?
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Can chronic endocarditis present with clinical stigmata during the examination?
Can chronic endocarditis present with clinical stigmata during the examination?
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What is infective endocarditis and what are its common causes?
What is infective endocarditis and what are its common causes?
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What are the epidemiological statistics regarding infective endocarditis related to cardiac abnormalities?
What are the epidemiological statistics regarding infective endocarditis related to cardiac abnormalities?
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How do viridans streptococci contribute to infective endocarditis?
How do viridans streptococci contribute to infective endocarditis?
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What distinguishes acute endocarditis from subacute endocarditis?
What distinguishes acute endocarditis from subacute endocarditis?
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What are some clinical features of infective endocarditis?
What are some clinical features of infective endocarditis?
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Explain how Staphylococcus epidermidis is related to infective endocarditis.
Explain how Staphylococcus epidermidis is related to infective endocarditis.
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What is the typical course of action for managing life-long antibiotic therapy in patients with infective endocarditis?
What is the typical course of action for managing life-long antibiotic therapy in patients with infective endocarditis?
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What is the significance of 'HACEK' bacteria in infective endocarditis?
What is the significance of 'HACEK' bacteria in infective endocarditis?
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Describe the relationship between Brucella endocarditis and animal contact.
Describe the relationship between Brucella endocarditis and animal contact.
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What are the late signs of infective endocarditis?
What are the late signs of infective endocarditis?
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Study Notes
Infective Endocarditis
- Caused by microbial infection of heart valves, chambers, blood vessels, or congenital anomalies.
- Native and prosthetic valves can be affected.
- Incidence: 5-15 cases per 100,000 annually.
- Pre-existing conditions linked to infective endocarditis: Rheumatic heart disease (24%), Congenital heart disease (19%), Cardiac abnormalities (25%), No pre-existing cardiac abnormalities (32%).
Pathophysiology
- Often occurs at sites of existing endocardial damage.
- Particularly virulent organisms (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) can cause it in previously healthy hearts.
Microbiology
- Most cases (over 75%) caused by streptococci or staphylococci.
- Viridans streptococci (e.g., Streptococcus mitis, Strep sanguis) common in subacute endocarditis. Enter into bloodstream through oral activities (chewing, brushing, dental procedures).
- Staphylococcus aureus now the most frequent cause of acute endocarditis.
- Post-operative infections often involve coagulase-negative staphylococci (e.g., Staph. epidermidis).
- Q fever endocarditis (caused by Coxiella burnetii) linked to farm animal contact.
- Aortic valve commonly affected. Other symptoms possible: hepatitis, pneumonia, and purpura (skin discoloration)
Clinical Features
Subacute Endocarditis
- Suspected in patients with congenital/valvular heart disease presenting with persistent fever, unusual fatigue, night sweats, weight loss, or new heart valve/heart failure issues.
- Embolic stroke or peripheral arterial embolism possible, less frequently.
- Symptoms include purpura, petechial hemorrhages, splinter hemorrhages, Osler's nodes.
- Digital clubbing (late sign).
- Spleen frequently affected.
Acute Endocarditis
- Severe febrile illness, prominent heart murmurs that change over time, and petechiae (small red spots on skin).
- Clinical stigmata of chronic endocarditis typically absent.
- Embolic events common.
- Rapid development of cardiac or renal failure possible.
- Abscesses may be detected by echocardiography.
- Partially treated acute endocarditis can resemble subacute endocarditis.
Post-operative Endocarditis
- Unexplained fever in patients after heart valve surgery.
- Infection usually involves the valve ring.
- High morbidity & mortality.
Investigations
- Blood cultures.
- Echocardiography.
- Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), normocytic normochromic anemia.
- EKG may show AV block (from aortic root abscess) or embolus-related infarcts.
- Chest X-ray might reveal heart failure and cardiomegaly.
Management
- Multidisciplinary approach (physician, surgeon, microbiologist).
- Empirical treatment depends on presentation, suspected organism, and prosthetic valve/penicillin allergy.
- Subacute presentation: Amoxicillin (2g IV 6x daily), possibly with gentamicin.
- Acute presentation: Vancomycin (1g IV twice daily), gentamicin (1 mg/kg IV twice daily), dose adjusted per antibiotic levels.
- Suspected prosthetic valve endocarditis: Vancomycin, gentamicin, and rifampicin (300-600 mg orally twice daily).
- Following identification of the organism, determine minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
Indications for Cardiac Surgery
- Heart failure from valve damage.
- Treatment failure (uncontrolled/persistent infection).
- Large vegetations on left-sided valves with a high embolus risk.
- Abscess formation.
Prevention
- Routine antibiotic prophylaxis for interventional procedures is no longer standard.
- May be considered for highest-risk individuals.
- High-risk cardiac conditions requiring prophylaxis:
- Prosthetic cardiac valves.
- History of infective endocarditis.
- Congenital heart disease (Unrepaired cyanotic CHD, surgery/catheter intervention in first 6 months post-procedure, repaired CHD with residual defect).
- Cardiac transplant recipients with valvular disease.
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Description
This quiz explores the causes, incidence, and microbiology of infective endocarditis. Learn about the pathogens involved, pre-existing conditions, and how infections occur in healthy and damaged hearts. Test your knowledge on this critical cardiac condition.