Infective Endocarditis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Management

This report provides a detailed overview of infective endocarditis, a serious infection of the heart valves or the inner lining of the heart chambers (endocardium). The pathogenesis of the disease, including the role of bacterial colonization of damaged valves, is explained. The report outlines the various symptoms associated with infective endocarditis, such as chest pain, fever, and fatigue, and describes the diagnostic procedures, including blood tests, echocardiograms, and imaging scans, used to identify the condition. It also covers predisposing factors like artificial heart valves and congenital heart defects, as well as the challenges encountered during clinical episodes and the importance of antibiotic prophylaxis. Furthermore, the report discusses antibiotic resistance, clinical management strategies, including antibiotic treatments and surgery, and the challenges posed by patient non-cooperation. Overall, the report provides a comprehensive understanding of the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of infective endocarditis.

Infective Endocarditis
What is infective endocarditis It is an Infection in heart valves or
endocardium which is the lining of interior surface of heart's
chambers. Types of endocarditis is either bacterial or fungal.
Common infective organism are Staphylococcus aureus,
Streptococci of viridans group and coagulase negative
Staphylococci. Bacteria may originated in urinary tract, skin,
mouth, intestines, and respiratory system and so on. Infective
endocarditis condition mainly cause due to bacteria entering in the
bloodstream and infect heart.
Predisposing factors
• Artificial heart valves
• Congenital heart defects
• A history of endocarditis
• Damaged heart valves
• A history of intravenous (IV) illegal
drug use
Dental Procedures & Infective Endocarditis
Antibiotics are provided to those patients before
conducting any kind of dental operations who
were at highest risk of Infective endocarditis.
Person with prosthetic heart valve
• A history of endocarditis
• Several congenital heart defects
Challenges during clinical episode
Major challenges faced during clinical
episode of Infective endocarditis is not
supportive behaviour of patient and precautions
given by doctor are not taken by patient.
Improper cooperation of patient create
challenges for care providers to conduct
treatment procedures for their well-being.
Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to Dental
Procedures- Prophylactic antibiotics are not
suggested to people with prosthetic joint
implants prior to dental processes.
Pathogenesis- The colonisation of damaged valves through
bacteria circulating in the blood consist in pathogenesis of infective
endocarditis. Valve endothelium physical lesions results into
exposure of underlying extracellular matrix protein, depositing
platelets & fibrin and manufacturing of tissue components that is
part of normal healing procedure. These non-bacterial thrombotic
endocarditis are considered to favourable atmosphere for bacterial
adherence and infection.
Symptoms and diagnosis of Infective endocarditis- Signs &
symptoms of infective endocarditis includes chest pain, weakness,
blood in urine, fever, sweating, red skin rash, white spots in mouth
or on tongue, cough, fatigue, weight loss and many more. There are
several diagnosing procedures that can be conduct to determine
actual cause of specific health problem for treating it properly.
Some of diagnosing activities are mentioned her.
Diagnosis
• Blood test
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Chest X-ray
• Computerised tomography (CT) Scan
Antibiotic resistance
Viridans group of streptococci are known to be relatively
or fully resistant to penicillin. The resistance to penicillin
increasingly analysed worldwide and scant number of
penicillin resistant isolates is observed to be a cause of
infective endocarditis.
Clinical management of infective endocarditis
Infective endocarditis result in irreversible damage to
heart, treatment is not provided to patient quickly it can
become life threatening.
Antibiotics and initial treatment – While patient is in
hospital every sign will be monitor and antibiotics
intravenously will be given.
Surgery – This is needed when patient heart valves get
damaged and surgeon recommend repairing heart valve.