Endocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart valves and chambers also known as endocardium.
It is caused by a bacterial infection or, on rare occasions, by viruses or fungi.
Symptoms may develop suddenly (fever and fast heart rate, fatigue) or slowly (mild fever, weight loss, excessive sweating, anaemia and skin spots similar to freckles located on the palms of the hands, nails, soles of the feet and the whites of the eyes).
Diagnosis is reached through thorough medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram, blood tests with cultures, chest X-ray, and cardiac ultrasound.
Treatment is based on the intravenous administration of antibiotics, medical treatment of symptoms. Surgical treatment may be required if there are severe complications.
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- Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute. Performance Standards for Susceptibility Testing. Twenty-second informational supplement CLSI document M100-S22, vol 32. Wayne, PA 2012.
- Karchmer AW. Endocarditis infecciosa. Harrison. Manual de Medicina. 16º edición. 390-398.
