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What is Infective Endocarditis?

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Endocarditis is a type of inflammation that affects the inner layer of the heart chambers, known as the endocardium, and the heart valves.

The most common cause is an infection, which can be triggered by different micro-organisms, usually bacteria. A less common cause may be a fungal (yeast) infection, which causes warts to develop on the heart valves. In exceptional cases, non-infective endocarditis can occur due to other inflammatory or even neoplastic diseases (tumours).

Infective endocarditis is not a common disease, but it is serious. If it is not treated quickly, it can disrupt the proper functioning of the heart by damaging the heart valves.

Endocarditis | PortalCLÍNIC

It is a very serious disease, we cannot ignore this. But despite having this diagnosis (and it is a major diagnosis), these patients can return to a very good quality of life and be cured of the infection.

Infective endocarditis in first per...

I have been doing respiratory recovery, but it is never enough.

Emilio Patient

Substantiated information by:

Eduardo Quintana Obrador Vascular Surgeon Cardiovascular Surgery Department

Josep M. Miró Meda

Marta Hernández Meneses

Published: 1 December 2021
Updated: 1 December 2021

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