1
Q
What is infective endocarditis?
A
Inflammation of the inner endocardial lining of the heart including the valves caused by an infective organism
2
Q
Types of endocarditis
A
- Rheumatic heart disease
- Infective
- Thrombotic
- Libman-sacks (occurs in certain malignancies)
3
Q
Why are rheumatic heart and valve replacement patients more susceptible to infective endocarditis?
A
Endocardial damage and scarring increases risk of bacterial colonisation on damaged tissues especially in patients with foreign materials
4
Q
A
