Infective endocarditis

Definition

A rare infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the endocardium (including native or prosthetic heart valves and indwelling cardiac devices) mainly caused by bacterial (predominantly Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species) or rarely fungal (predominantly Candida and Aspergillus species) infections that the latter are reported to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. Major clinical features include high fever or prolonged subfebrile state, chills, diaphoresis, malaise, asthenia, arthralgia, myalgia, weight loss, headache, nausea, dyspnea, cough, heart murmurs, and petechiae of the skin. The most common complications are embolism in different organs and ischemic stroke, sepsis, heart failure, and renal failure.