Infective Endocarditis Flashcards
How common is infective endocarditis?
Infective endocarditis is uncommon
1-6% of prosthetic valves become infected
BUT
It is still important because it has a high morbidity and mortality
Why is infective endocarditis difficult to diagnose?
Clinical presentation varies widely, making it difficult to diagnose
What are some of the clinical signs of IE?
- Petechiae (common, nonspecific)
- Splinter hemorrhages (8%)
- Osler Nodes
- Roth’s Spots (5%)
- Janeway’s Lesions (5%)
- Conjunctival hemorrhages (5%)
- Hematuria (25%)
What are the two broad classifications of infective endocarditis?
- Native Valve Endocarditis
2. Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis
Why is it important to distinguish between native valve and prosthetic valve endocarditis?
- Determines possible etiologic microbial pathogens
- Guides choice of antimicrobial agents that can be used for empiric therapy
- Guides further management options where necessary
Apart from distinguishing between native valve and prosthetic valve endocarditis, what else should be considered when choosing an empiric antimicrobial agent?
- IE in IV drug users (IVDU)
- IE associated with a nosocomial infection
What are some of the risk factors fro the development of infective endocarditis?
- Structural abnormalities of the heart
- Prosthetic valves
- IVDU
- Nosocomial infections
- Presence of indwelling intravascular devices
- Hemodialysis
- Prior episode of IE
Why is the epidemiology of infective endocarditis changing?
Differences in epidemiology between developed vs. developing countries
What contributes to the epidemiology of infective endocarditis in low-income countries?
- Rheumatic heart disease is the main risk factor
- STREPTOCOCCI is the most frequent cause
What contributes to the epidemiology of infective endocarditis in high-income countries?
- Increase in life expectancy
- Degenerative valvulopathies
- Prosthetic valves
- Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices
- Nosocomial infections
- Right sided endocarditis related to IV drug users
- STAPHYLOCOCCI as a cause becoming more frequent
What is the definition of infective endocarditis?
Infection of the endocardial surface of the heart
What is the definition of a vegetation?
Accumulation of bacteria, fibrin and platelets (implies the physical presence of micro-organusm within the lesion)
What are the two main types of prosthetic valves?
- Mechanical
2. Bioprosthetic valves (tissue)
What are mechanical prosthetic valves and where does infection of these valves usually occur?
- Metal or carbon alloys
- Not well suited for microbial adherence
- Infection at interface of sewing cuff and native tissue
What are complications with mechanical prosthetic valve infective endocarditis?
- Periprosthetic / paravalvular leaks and abscesses
- Ring abscesses
- Annular abscesses
What are bioprosthetic valves and where does infection of these valves usually occur?
- Homografts (preserved human aortic valves); or heterografts (bovine pericardial or porcine valve tissue mounted on a metal support)
- Infection restricted to the cusps
What are complications with bioprosthetic prosthetic valve infective endocarditis?
- cusp rupture, perforation, leaks
- sewing cuffs (similar to mechanical)
Pathogenesis of prosthetic valve endocarditis: what parts of the prosthesis are highly thrombogenic?
- sewing cuff fabric of valve prosthesis
- sutures
- annular and periannular mechanical and inflammatory lesions may be present
- ageing prosthesis
What are the 3 modes of infection in prosthetic valve endocarditis?
- Contamination at the time of insertion
- Hematogenous spread of infection from another site
- Contiguous spread of infection from surrounding tissue = secondary infection of indwelling cardiovascular device
What complications are associated with infective endocarditis?
- Aneurysms, valvular incompetence
- Congestive cardiac failure (common)
- Embolization of vegetations - multi-organ infection and sepsis
- Loosening of sutures = peri-prosthetic leaks or ring abscesses (PVE)
- Ruptured ring abscesses = fistulous tracks into surrounding tissues, intracardiac shunting (PVE)