Endocarditis & Cardiac Infections Flashcards
layers lining the heart (from outermost to innermost)
- pericardium (outermost layer): composed of:
-fibrous pericardium
-serous pericardium (parietal layer)
-pericardial space
-serous pericardium (visceral layer; aka epicardium) - myocardium (muscle layer)
- endocardium (inner endothelial lining covering trabeculae)
pericarditis - overview
*inflammation of the lining around the heart (pericardium)
pericarditis - etiologies
*often idiopathic
*VIRAL INFECTIONS (coxsackie B
*other infectious causes (bacteria, fungi, parasites)
*malignancy
*cardiac surgery
*thoracic radiotherapy (early)
*MI (postcardiac injury syndrome)
*autoimmune diseases (SLE, rheumatoid arthritis)
*renal failure (uremia)
pericarditis - clinical presentation
*sharp chest pain
-aggravated by inspiration
-relieved by sitting up & LEANING FORWARD
*PERICARDIAC FRICTION RUB on auscultation
*can be complicated by a pericardial effusion
*classic presentation: YOUNG ADULT, usually male, with CHEST PAIN
pericarditis - diagnosis
*diagnosed by physical exam, echocardiogram, EKG, and pericardiocentesis (if pericardial effusion):
-PE: sharp chest pain, pericardial friction rub
-echo:
-EKG: widespread/diffuse ST-segment elevation and/or PR depression
pericarditis - treatment
*anti-inflammatories if viral (NSAIDs, colchicine)
*antibiotics if bacterial
myocarditis - overview
*inflammation of the heart muscle itself (inflammation of myocardium)
*major cause of sudden cardiac death in adults < 40 yo
myocarditis - etiologies
*VIRAL (coxsackie B, echoviruses)
*parasitic
*bacterial
*toxins
*rheumatic fever
*drugs
*autoimmune
myocarditis - clinical presentation
*highly variable
*classically presents in younger adults
*heart failure signs predominant (dyspnea, pulmonary edema, peripheral edema, dyspnea on exertion)
*fever, dyspnea, chest pain, arrythmias *persistent tachycardia out of proportion to fever
myocarditis - diagnosis
*echocardiogram: low EF, decreased heart wall movements
*serologies for likely causes
*possibly biopsy
myocarditis - treatment
*supportive, using anti-inflammatories
COVID-19 myocarditis
*virus binds its spike to membrane ACE2 (found in higher concentrations on male > female cells)
*combination of direct myocardial cell infection & damage from inflammatory response
*estimated that COVID has > 15-fold risk of myocarditis compared to other viruses
*vaccine was also implicated
*can cause life-threatening arrhythmias
infective endocarditis (IE) - overview
*infection of the lining membranes of the heart or its valves
*usually caused by a BACTERIAL infection
*most commonly infects sites of pre-existing lesions (rheumatic heart disease, unrepaired congenital heart disease, mitral valve prolapse, etc)
*associated with IV DRUG USE
*increasing incidence of healthcare-associated IE (dialysis patients, central lines, cardiac devices, prosthetic valves)
infective endocarditis (IE) - right vs. left side heart valve disease
*in non-drug users, left-sided disease dominates (mitral valve, aortic valve)
*IV drug use:
-mean age ~30 yo
-RIGHT-sided tricuspid valve disease much more common & considered a hallmark
-note: can have left-sided valve disease as well
infective endocarditis (IE) - etiologies (pre-antibiotic era)
*viridans streptococci predominate
*rheumatic heart disease is key risk factor
*subacute processes key to diagnoses:
-glomerulonephritis
-splenomegaly
-Osler’s nodes and roth spots