infectious endocarditis Flashcards
what is infectious endocarditis
an bacterial infection of the endocardium and valves, leading to inflammation
what is the endocardium
band of tissue adjacent to the chambers (inner lining of heart)
for infectious endocarditis to occur, bacteria must? (3)
- find a way into circulation—> more difficult than entering resp tract, pt often immunosuppresed
- survive in the bloodstream and evade all of the defence cells
- adhere onto a surface–> endocardium is smooth, bacteria need a rougher surface (like defective valves)
once the bacteria have attached to the surface, the abnormality in the blood attracts?
platelets, BUT there is no hemorrhage, so they are not needed.
why are the platelets disadvantageous?
the platelets create fibrin strands that the bacteria colonize in
when the bacteria colonize in fibrin strands it is known as…
VEGETATIVE growth
manifestations of this disease?
- local and systemic signs and symptoms (fever, tired, SOB, chest pain)
- impaired valve function (infection likely close to the valves)
why is a cardiac murmur heard?
a cardiac murmur is a swishing sound heard with stethoscope, and it is caused by additional material gathering near the valves
complication of infectious endocarditis?
-distal embolization—> the vegetative growth can break off due to turbulent blood flow and move through chambers and valves, out the aorta and to a smaller vessel in the systemic circuit where it blocks blood flow
diagnosis for infectious endocarditis?
difficult due to location, specific test: blood culture (C&S) to test blood flow im chamber of heart for bacteria—> results take about 3 days
-for systemic infection: blood serology to measure specific Abs
-non-specific: procalcitonin (bacterial sepsis), CRP, ESR, differential, CBC
-NO ckmb released because NO necrosis of tissue
echocardiogram- locate infection
treatment for infectious endocarditis?
-antibiotics (take about 10-14 days to fix cardiac problems)
symptomatic management
