Lightning Learning: Infective Endocarditis
““Infective Endocarditis is an infectious disease of the heart and surrounding vessels commonly seen in patients with a history of cardiac disease.””
STOP!
Infective Endocarditis (IE) is an infectious disease of the heart and surrounding vessels.
Most commonly seen in patients with a history of congenital or acquired cardiac disease or indwelling prosthetic material.
Patients can present with:
Persistent low-grade fever
Heart murmur
Splenomegaly
Cutaneous signs (e.g. petechiae, Osler’s nodes, Janeway lesions, splinter haemorrhages)
LOOK
For infective endocarditis, you must have the triad of: endothelial damage, platelet aggregation and microbial adherence.
Common causative organisms?
Staphylococcus Aureus
Streptococcus Viridans
Streptococcus Pneumoniae
Investigations?
Multiple blood cultures
Echo
Diagnosis?
Modified Dukes criteria
LEARN
- Teach Me Paediatrics: Infective Endocarditis
Management? IV empirical antibiotics until sensitivity known. Surgical intervention dependant on a number of factors (e.g. valvular dysfunction)
