Endocarditis (infected heart valve)

Overview

Germs in the blood stick to heart valves and grow, damaging the valve and sending clots elsewhere.

Dental work, injection drug use, and artificial valves raise risk.

Symptoms

Common signs:

• Fever and tiredness

Less common

• New murmur
• Night sweats
• Small dark lines under nails
• Painful spots on fingers

Look up a symptom: Sores, abscesses, or track marks from injecting

When to get medical care

Causes

Bacteria.

Does it spread or run in families?

• Yes, it can spread from person to person.
• How it spreads: touch, usually your own gut bacteria, getting into the urinary tract, the blood, or the belly.
• Washing hands often and staying home when sick help protect others.

Who is more likely to get it

• Injection drug use

Possible complications

• Stroke: Clumps of germs can travel to the brain
• Heart failure: From a damaged valve

Diagnosis

Blood cultures and echo.

Treatment

Get care.

Self-care

• Take all IV antibiotics

Prevention

To lower your risk or prevent problems:

• Dental care
• Good dental care

Which doctor treats this

• Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
• They may send you to a cardiologist (heart doctor).

Living with it

Support groups and helplines

• American Heart Association: Plain-language heart information and a support network for patients.

Back to school, work, or sports

• Stay home until you've had no fever for 24 hours without fever medicine and you're feeling better.
• For the next 5 days, wash hands often and wear a mask around others.

Children, pregnancy, and older adults

• People with artificial valves: Higher risk.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

• If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
• This condition needs closer checkups during pregnancy. Plan ahead with your doctor.
• Some infections can pass to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Tell your provider if you've been exposed.
• Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
• Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
• Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.

Outlook

Treatable.

Most recover with treatment.

Getting ready for your visit

Bring a list of your symptoms and medicines.

What to bring

• A list of your medicines and supplements
• Notes on when symptoms started and what makes them better or worse

Questions to ask

• Do I need antibiotics before dental work?

Research studies

Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.

Search ClinicalTrials.gov for studies on Endocarditis (infected heart valve)