Frequently asked questions

Yes, the disease can be cured using only drug treatment, depending on the degree of valve or heart tissue involvement, the type of micro-organism and the manifestations of the endocarditis. More than half of people with endocarditis do not require heart surgery.

Having had the disease increases the risk of recurrence by a small percentage, especially in cases where it was necessary to replace a valve. For this reason, there are follow-up programmes with the multidisciplinary endocarditis teams and in primary care that actively monitor new episodes.

It must be confirmed that the episode of infective endocarditis has been cured. This means at least three to six months without antibiotics, and having repeated negative blood cultures. In order to guarantee that the disease is cured, follow-up is carried out at outpatient infectious disease clinics using regular examinations and analyses.

No, a person cannot give endocarditis to someone else. 

It usually takes four to six weeks. However, each case must be adapted to the individual, because some people may require longer therapies.

During the first few weeks, the antibiotic treatment must be given in high doses and intravenously so we can guarantee that the disease is cured. During this period, the patient should remain in hospital in order to evaluate clinical evolution and anticipate complications. Once this period is over and the patient has improved, we can evaluate the case, and intravenous therapies at home or even oral therapy may be possible.

Proper oral hygiene and the use of antibiotics as prevention (prophylaxis) for invasive procedures, when indicated, can help prevent the disease. When there is clinical suspicion, you should consult a medical professional if you have a fever that does not go away, unexplained fatigue, any type of skin infection, or open cuts or sores that do not heal properly. You should also avoid intravenous drug use.

You will progressively recover from both the infection and surgery, as well as from the impact of prolonged treatment. It is possible that after a severe infection, which requires a long period of antibiotic therapy, the patient may be tired, and it may take time to return to the same level of physical fitness as before. Digestive or antibiotic-related discomfort may also appear. Recovery is slow and progressive, accompanied by regular check-ups with various specialists at outpatient clinics. A return to normal life is usually possible within a few months after treatment ends.

In some cases, there may be after-effects of the infection, especially if there was neurological involvement that impairs movement, sensation, vision or speech. In these cases, treatment and recovery strategies will be included once the most severe or acute phase of the disease has passed. There may also be cardiac after-effects. For this reason, close monitoring by Cardiology and Heart Surgery will be available where necessary.

Ideally, it is best to be monitored frequently for six months to a year to diagnose potential complications or new episodes. Whether or not longer controls will be subsequently maintained will depend on the individual case. Some bacterial or fungal infections require prolonged monitoring. If heart surgery was needed, the most likely outcome is lifelong visits with the Cardiology and/or Heart Surgery Departments, and with the Infectious Disease Department.