Cureus 2022 Jan 18;14(1):e21396. Epub 2022 Jan 18.
Community Medicine Management, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Izumo, JPN.
Infective endocarditis (IE) is caused by vegetations, consisting of platelets, fibrin, inflammatory cells, and microcolonies of bacteria, fungi, rickettsia, chlamydia, and viruses, that form in the heart valves, endocardium, and large vessel intima. endocarditis is highly tissue destructive, usually follows an acute course, and tends to become severe due to valve destruction, surrounding abscesses, and distant seeding. The main complications of IE due to are heart failure due to destruction of tendon cords and valves, perivalvular abscesses and fistulas, and the dissemination of septic emboli to various organs including the brain, kidney, spleen, and lungs. Read More