Endocarditis

Fever + new murmur = infective endocarditis until proven otherwise

Causes/Factors

• recent dental work
• renal failure
• Immunosuppression

Organisms - most common

• Strep viridans (subacute)
• Staph aureus (most common amongst IVDU)
• Strep bovis
• Chlamydia
• Candida

Symptoms

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Janeway lesions & Osler’s nodes - due to vegetations embolising
• SoB

Signs

• Septic signs - fever, rigors, night sweats
• Cardiac lesions
• Petechiae

Diagnostic Tests

• Blood cultures
• ECG - ST changes
• FBC

Management

1. IV-antibiotics - flucloxacillin standard but depends on organism
2. Surgery if Heart Failure, valvular obstruction, repeated emboli, fungal

Complications/red Flags

• Heart valve damage
• Embolisms - clumps of infected material can break off and travel through the bloodstream
• Heart Failure - heart valve dysfunction can lead to Heart Failure