Endocarditis

Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Slideshow

Revising Medical Author: Daniel Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Revising Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• What is endocarditis?
• What causes endocarditis?
• What are the symptoms of endocarditis?
• Who is at risk for endocarditis?
• How is endocarditis diagnosed?
• How is endocarditis treated?

What is endocarditis?

Endocarditis is a serious infection of one of the four heart valves.

What causes endocarditis?

Endocarditis is caused by a growth of bacteria on one of the heart valves, leading to an infected mass called a "vegetation". The infection may be introduced during brief periods of having bacteria in the bloodstream, such as after dental work, colonoscopy, and other similar procedures.

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