Dr

Bacterial endocarditis (BE) is an infection of the valves and inner lining of the heart (called the endocardium). It happens when bacteria from the skin, mouth or intestines enter the bloodstream and infect the heart valves and lining.

Although BE can occur in anyone, people with a heart valve problem, an artificial valve or a heart defect are at greatest risk. Having a heart murmur sometimes increases the chances of getting BE. Your doctor can usually determine whether you have a type of heart murmur that increases your risk of BE.

Dental work (including professional teeth cleaning) and some medical procedures (such as colonoscopy, cysoscopy and sigmoidoscopy) increase the risk of bacteria entering the bloodstream. If you have an abnormal heart valve or another heart defect, you are at risk of BE any time bacteria gets into your bloodstream.

If you have a heart defect or valve problem, make sure your doctor or dentist knows about it. If you have your teeth cleaned or have another one of the procedures mentioned above, you need to take antibiotics. The antibiotics can help keep bacteria from surviving in your bloodstream.

BE can't always be prevented, because doctors don't always know when bacteria might get into your bloodstream. That's why you need to keep a close eye on your health if you have a heart defect or a valve problem.

Fever, chills and other flu-like symptoms may be the only signs of BE. Other symptoms are unexplained weight loss and weakness. Your doctor may suspect you have BE if he or she hears abnormal heart sounds with a stethoscope. Your doctor will then need to do more tests, such as blood tests and echocardiography (looking at the heart by using an ultrasound) to find out if you have BE.

BE is treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are usually started intravenously (through an IV) in the hospital, but many people can finish their treatment at home. For more complicated infections, heart surgery may be needed.

Once infected, your heart may not pump blood as well as it did before. This is called heart failure. Other problems include irregularities of the heart beat, damage to the heart muscle and blood clots. If BE isn't treated, it can lead to death.