- Acute Flaccid Myelitis
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Arteriovenous Malformations
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Back Pain
- Brain Aneurysm
- Brain Tumors
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Childhood Brain Tumors
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Hemorrhagic Stroke
- Ischemic Stroke
- Memory
- Meningitis
- Mild Cognitive Impairment
- Movement Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroblastoma
- Neuromuscular Disorders
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Polio and Post-Polio Syndrome
- Speech and Language Problems in Children
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack
- Tremor
- Walking Problems
- West Nile Virus
- A1C
- Blood Glucose
- Diabetes
- Diabetes and Pregnancy
- Diabetes Complications
- Diabetes in Children and Teens
- Diabetes Medicines
- Diabetes Type 1
- Diabetes Type 2
- Diabetic Diet
- Diabetic Eye Problems
- Diabetic Foot
- Diabetic Heart Disease
- Diabetic Kidney Problems
- Diabetic Nerve Problems
- How to Prevent Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Prediabetes
- Abortion
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Diseases
- Breast Reconstruction
- Breastfeeding
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer Screening
- Cesarean Delivery
- Childbirth
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Endometriosis
- Female Infertility
- Health Problems in Pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Hormone Replacement Therapy
- HPV
- Hysterectomy
- Infections and Pregnancy
- Mammography
- Mastectomy
- Menopause
- Menstruation
- Miscarriage
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Ovarian Disorders
- Pelvic Floor Disorders
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Pain
- Period Pain
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Drug Use
- Pregnancy and Opioids
- Premenstrual Syndrome
- Prenatal Care
- Prenatal Testing
- Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
- Sexual Problems in Women
- Stillbirth
- Teenage Pregnancy
- Trichomoniasis
- Tubal Ligation
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Diseases
- Uterine Fibroids
- Vaginal Bleeding
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vaginal Diseases
- Vaginitis
- Vulvar Cancer
- Vulvar Disorders
- Yeast Infections
- Alcohol
- Calcium
- Child Nutrition
- Cholesterol
- Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know
- Cholesterol Medicines
- DASH Eating Plan
- Eating Disorders
- Food Allergy
- HDL: The “Good” Cholesterol
- High Cholesterol in Children and Teens
- How to Lower Cholesterol
- How to Lower Cholesterol with Diet
- Infant and Newborn Nutrition
- LDL: The “Bad” Cholesterol
- Malabsorption Syndromes
- Nutrition for Older Adults
- Pregnancy and Nutrition
- Toddler Nutrition
- Triglycerides
- VLDL Cholesterol
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Ataxia Telangiectasia
- Brain Malformations
- Cerebral Palsy
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
- Chiari Malformation
- Cleft Lip and Palate
- Color Blindness
- Congenital Heart Defects
- Craniofacial Abnormalities
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
- Friedreich Ataxia
- Genetic Counseling
- Hemophilia
- Huntington’s Disease
- Hydrocephalus
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Neural Tube Defects
- Neurofibromatosis
- Newborn Screening
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Prader-Willi Syndrome
- Pregnancy and Medicines
- Rett Syndrome
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Tay-Sachs Disease
- Tourette Syndrome
- Tuberous Sclerosis
- Usher Syndrome
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Allergy
- Animal Bites
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Aplastic Anemia
- Asthma
- Asthma in Children
- Childhood Leukemia
- Childhood Vaccines
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- COVID-19 Vaccines
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Eosinophilic Disorders
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis
- Giant Cell Arteritis
- Hay Fever
- HIV
- HIV and Infections
- HIV in Women
- Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Infectious Diseases
- Infectious Mononucleosis
- Juvenile Arthritis
- Kawasaki Disease
- Lymphedema
- Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma
- Pemphigus
- Pneumocystis Infections
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Scleroderma
- Sjogren’s Syndrome
- Tonsillitis
- Vaccines
- Viral Infections
- Adhesions
- Ankle Injuries and Disorders
- Arm Injuries and Disorders
- Back Injuries
- Brachial Plexus Injuries
- Burns
- Chest Injuries and Disorders
- Concussion
- CPR
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dislocations
- Elbow Injuries and Disorders
- Eye Injuries
- Facial Injuries and Disorders
- Finger Injuries and Disorders
- Foot Injuries and Disorders
- Fractures
- Hand Injuries and Disorders
- Heel Injuries and Disorders
- Hip Injuries and Disorders
- Inhalation Injuries
- Insect Bites and Stings
- Jaw Injuries and Disorders
- Knee Injuries and Disorders
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
- Mosquito Bites
- Neck Injuries and Disorders
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Shoulder Injuries and Disorders
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Sprains and Strains
- Tick Bites
- Toe Injuries and Disorders
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Wrist Injuries and Disorders
- Acute Bronchitis
- Bird Flu
- Chronic Bronchitis
- COPD
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Croup
- E-Cigarettes
- Fistulas
- Flu
- Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
- H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu)
- Legionnaires’ Disease
- Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections
- Sleep Apnea
- Smoking
- Tuberculosis
- Whooping Cough
- Anatomy
- Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Birth Control
- Chlamydia Infections
- Circumcision
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Genital Herpes
- Genital Warts
- Gonorrhea
- Herpes Simplex
- Infertility
- Male Infertility
- Penis Disorders
- Prostate Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Screening
- Prostate Diseases
- Reproductive Hazards
- Sexual Health
- Sexual Problems in Men
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases
- Syphilis
- Testicular Cancer
- Testicular Disorders
- Vasectomy
- Abdominal Pain
- Bad Breath
- Bleeding
- Breathing Problems
- Bruises
- Chest Pain
- Choking
- Chronic Pain
- Constipation
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness and Vertigo
- Edema
- Fainting
- Fever
- Frostbite
- Gas
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Headache
- Heartburn
- Heat Illness
- Hives
- Hypothermia
- Indigestion
- Itching
- Jaundice
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Pain
- Rare Diseases
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Sciatica
- Speech and Communication Disorders
- Stuttering
Endocarditis
Summary
What is endocarditis?
Endocarditis is sometimes called infective endocarditis. It’s a rare, but life-threatening inflammation of the lining inside your heart’s chambers and valves (the endocardium).
Endocarditis is usually caused by germs that get into your bloodstream and travel to your heart. Once they get inside your heart, the germs can attach to the lining or get trapped in the valves. They start to grow, causing an infection. If not treated quickly, the infection can cause damage to the heart and lead to serious health problems.
What causes endocarditis?
Bacterial infections cause most endocarditis. Normally, many bacteria live in your mouth, on your skin, or in other parts of the body. Sometimes the bacteria can get into your bloodstream from injuries such cuts or scrapes. Dental work and certain surgeries can also allow small amounts of bacteria to enter your bloodstream.
In some cases, fungal infections cause endocarditis. The fungi, such as yeast, can live in parts of your body. Fungal infections generally happen in people who have weakened immune systems that can’t stop the fungus from growing. This includes people who have HIV/AIDS.
Who is more likely to develop endocarditis?
In general, endocarditis is rare. If you’re healthy, your immune system usually destroys the germs in your bloodstream before they can cause harm.
But your chance of developing endocarditis may be higher than most people if you:
- Have certain heart conditions. Damaged or abnormal heart tissue and devices in your heart can trap germs more easily than healthy heart tissue. That means your risk of endocarditis is higher if you have:
- Heart valve disease.
- Certain congenital heart defects.
- A pacemaker or an implantable defibrillator.
- A heart valve replacement.
- Are older. Age-related changes to the heart valves, such as mitral valve prolapse or calcium deposits in the aortic valve, create places for germs to attach to the heart.
- Inject illegal drugs. Unclean needles may carry bacteria into the bloodstream.
- Have a condition that weakens your immune system.
- Don’t take care of your teeth and gums. Poor dental health makes it easier for germs to get into your bloodstream through your gums and mouth.
- Have a long-term central venous line, a tube that stays in a large vein for weeks or months for medical treatment.
- Have already had endocarditis. Endocarditis can damage heart tissue, which increases your risk of getting it again.
What are the symptoms of endocarditis?
Endocarditis symptoms may be severe or very mild. They may start suddenly or slowly. And they can vary from person to person. The possible symptoms of endocarditis include:
- Fever and chills
- New or worsening heart murmur (an unusual sound heard between heartbeats)
- Chest pain
- Cough
- Muscle, joint, and back pain
- Night sweats (heavy sweating during sleep)
- Shortness of breath (feeling like you can’t get enough air)
- Skin changes, including:
- Broken blood vessels
- Painful red or purple bumps
- Painless flat red spots on the palms of your hands or soles of your feet
What other problems can endocarditis cause?
When the germs are in your heart, they can clump together with blood cells. These clumps can break off and travel through your bloodstream. They may block blood flow, spread infection, or damage your organs, including your brain, lungs, kidneys, and spleen.
Endocarditis may sometimes lead to sepsis, a medical emergency that happens when your body has an extreme response to the infection.
Endocarditis can also cause serious heart problems including:
- Heart valve damage
- Heart failure
- Arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat)
How is endocarditis diagnosed?
To find out if you have endocarditis, your doctor will:
- Ask about your medical history, including your symptoms, recent illnesses, and other health conditions that affect your chance of developing endocarditis.
- Do a physical exam.
- Likely order tests, such as:
- Blood tests to check for signs of infection, bacteria, or fungi in your blood.
- Chest x-rays.
- Heart tests.
What are the treatments for endocarditis?
If you have endocarditis, it’s important to get treatment quickly. Treatments may include:
- Medicines
- Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Antibiotics are usually started through an intravenous (IV) line in the hospital.
- Antifungal medicine to treat fungal infections. Your doctor may suggest taking antifungal medicine for the rest of your life to prevent the infection from coming back.
- Heart surgery may be needed to repair or replace damaged valves and heart tissue. Surgery may also be done to remove infected tissue.
- Dental care, especially cleanings, can help reduce the amount of bacteria that grows in your mouth.
Treatment may last weeks, and you may need tests to make sure it’s working. Your doctor will also check you for problems that could develop from endocarditis, such as heart failure or an irregular heartbeat.
Can endocarditis be prevented?
If you have a higher chance of developing endocarditis than most people, you can reduce your risk if you:
- Take good care of your teeth and gums every day
- Have dental exams and cleaning at your dentist’s office every 6 months
- Make heart-healthy habits part of your daily life to help prevent heart disease
- Call your health care provider right away if you have symptoms that could be endocarditis
People with the highest risk for bacterial endocarditis need antibiotics before dental visits or certain medical or surgical procedures. Ask your provider if you’re part of the highest risk group. If so, let all your providers know about your risk.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Find an Expert
- American Heart Association American Heart Association
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Encyclopedia
- Antistreptolysin O titer Medical Encyclopedia
- Splinter hemorrhages Medical Encyclopedia
Start Here
- Bacterial Endocarditis American Academy of Family Physicians
- Endocarditis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Heart Inflammation National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Infective Endocarditis Merck & Co., Inc.
- What Is Infective Endocarditis? American Heart Association
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Endocarditis National Institutes of Health
Patient Handouts
- Culture-negative endocarditis Medical Encyclopedia
- Endocarditis Medical Encyclopedia
- Endocarditis – children Medical Encyclopedia
Diagnosis and Tests
- Heart Tests National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Reference Desk
- How the Heart Works National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Specifics
- Infective Endocarditis Texas Heart Institute
- Infective Endocarditis American Heart Association
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Prevention of Infective (Bacterial) Endocarditis: Wallet Card American Heart Association