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Sub-Category:

Bacterial Endocarditis

Specialty: Emergency and Urgent Care

Sub-category: Cardiovascular Infections

Symptoms:
fever; heart murmur; fatigue; night sweats; unexplained weight loss; skin lesions on hands or feet (janeway lesions); painful nodules (osler's nodes); shortness of breath; swelling in legs or abdomen

Root Cause:
Infection of the heart's inner lining or valves caused by bacteria, commonly Streptococcus or Staphylococcus species, entering the bloodstream.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood cultures, echocardiogram, and clinical evaluation of symptoms.

Treatment:
Long-term intravenous antibiotics and sometimes surgical valve repair or replacement.

Medications:
Antibiotics such as vancomycin or ceftriaxone (antibacterials), depending on the causative organism and susceptibility.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 3–10 cases per 100,000 population annually.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prosthetic heart valves, previous endocarditis, congenital heart defects, intravenous drug use, and invasive dental or medical procedures.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Varies; good with early treatment but high risk of complications if delayed.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Heart failure, stroke, septic emboli, and valve damage.