Endocarditis is an inflammation of the lining of the heart valves that is most often caused by infection. Most people who develop this condition already have heart problems and are over 60 years old, but it can occur at any age, including in children. While not very common, this can be a very serious disease. Men are more likely to be affected than women.
There are two types of endocarditis: infective and non-infective. With prompt treatment, the majority of people with infective endocarditis will survive. Non-infective endocarditis is more difficult to treat.
Some people are more likely than others to develop endocarditis. The following conditions increase the risk:
Endocarditis develops in the endocardium, the inner tissue of the heart. It starts if this tissue has been damaged, injured, or infected. Much as a cut on the skin causes a scab to form, damage to the endocardium can lead to the formation of a blood and tissue clot (thrombus).
In acute infective endocarditis, the clots are caused by bacterial or fungal infection, inflaming and damaging the heart cells. The infection reaches the heart through blood that’s carrying a concentration of bacteria, a condition called bacteremia. Once the infectious agent reaches the heart via the blood, it tends to concentrate around the valves – the blood’s point of entry and exit. Despite the name, infective endocarditis isn’t contagious.
The infecting agent can get into the blood through:
In non-infective endocarditis, the clot may not be infected but interferes with heart valve function anyway. Some conditions make the formation of scar tissue on the heart valves more likely:
If a bacterium is causing endocarditis, your doctor will prescribe one or more antibiotics for 2 to 8 weeks. These antibiotics often have to be given by intravenous (IV) injection. If a fungus is the cause, an antifungal medication is given. These must usually be given by IV injection for 6 or more weeks. Heart surgery is sometimes needed for infective endocarditis, especially for people with prosthetic heart valves.
Non-infective endocarditis is treated with anticoagulants like warfarin* that help prevent further clots from developing.
To prevent infective endocarditis, be sure to let your doctor know if you have a prosthetic valve, have previously had endocarditis or have congenital heart disease. This is important especially if you need to undergo surgery or dental work.
If you are at a high risk for endocarditis, you may be prescribed antibiotics before surgery or dental work to reduce the risk of endocarditis, depending on the type of procedure you will be undergoing. It is extremely important to take these antibiotics as directed by your doctor. Usually, a single dose of amoxicillin is given around an hour before your dental procedure to reduce the risk of endocarditis. For people allergic to penicillin, antibiotics such as cephalexin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin may be used.
There are some other preventive measures you can take:
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Endocarditis
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