Infective Endocarditis Flashcards
1
Q
Characteristics of endocarditis
A
- Fever
- Persistent bacteremia
- Vegetation on endothelial surface of heart
2
Q
Characteristics of endocardial vegetation
A
- Variable size
- Mass made of fibrin and platelets
- Lots of microbes
- Few inflammatory cells
3
Q
What are the 4 types of IE?
A
- Native valve IE
- Prosthetic valve IE
- IV drug abuse IE
- Nosocomial IE
4
Q
What classifies acute IE?
A
- Affects normal heart valves
- Rapidly destructive
- Metastatic foci
- Most commonly caused by Staph
- W/O Tx is fatal within 6 weeks
5
Q
What classifies subacute IE?
A
- Often affects damaged heart valves
- Slower progression
- W/O Tx is fatal in 1 year
6
Q
What are the risk factors for IE?
A
- IVDU
- Artificial heart valves and pacemakers
- Acquired heart defects
- Congenital heart disease
- Intravascular catheters
7
Q
In general, what are the top 3 major causes of IE?
A
- S. aureus
- Viridans group (Strep)
- CNS
8
Q
What is the most common cause of culture negative IE?
A
Prior antibiotic therapy
9
Q
Outline the patho of IE
A
- Turbulent blood flow makes the endocardial surface sticky
- Bacteremia brings microbes to the sticky surface
- These organisms adhere to the endocardial surface
- Over time they invade the heart valve leaflets
10
Q
List the destructive local effects of IE
A
- Valve distortion/destruction
- Chordal rupture
- Perforation
- Paravalvular abscess
- Conduction abnormalities
- Purulent pericarditis
- Valve obstruction
11
Q
Clinical features of IE
A
- Fever
- Splenomegaly
- Heart murmurs
- Peripheral signs
- Emboli
12
Q
What are the peripheral signs of IE?
A
- Splinter hemorrhage
- Oslers nodes
- Janeway lesions
- Subconjunctival hemorrhage
13
Q
What are Janeway lesions?
A
- Erythematous, blanching macules
- Non-painful
- Located on palms and soles
14
Q
Where do you find Roth’s spots?
A
In the eye
15
Q
What investigations are appropriate for suspected IE?
A
- Blood cultures
- CBC
- CRP
- Urinalysis
- Renal and hepatic profile
- ECG
- TTE or TEE