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Contents
  • Common Bacterial Causes
  • Uncommon Causes
  • Specific Bacteria and Risk
  • Culture-Negative Cases

Unveiling the Culprits: Bacteria Behind Infective Endocarditis

Unveiling the Culprits: Bacteria Behind Infective Endocarditis

The Big Picture

Understanding the bacteria that cause infective endocarditis is crucial for prevention and treatment.
Contents
  • Common Bacterial Causes
  • Uncommon Causes
  • Specific Bacteria and Risk
  • Culture-Negative Cases

Common Bacterial Causes

The main bacterial culprits of infective endocarditis include staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common cause in healthcare settings, while streptococci are often behind community-acquired cases.

Uncommon Causes

Less common causes include gram-negative bacteria, which do not adhere to heart valves as easily as gram-positive bacteria. Fungal infections are rare but can be caused by Candida and Aspergillus species.
Infective endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves, typically caused by bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci.

Specific Bacteria and Risk

Different streptococcal species have varying risks for causing infective endocarditis. Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus gordonii are among those with high odds, while Streptococcus pyogenes has a lower risk.

Culture-Negative Cases

In some cases, cultures fail to identify the bacteria causing infective endocarditis. These culture-negative cases can account for up to 8 percent of all cases and pose challenges in treatment.

FAQs

What bacteria cause infective endocarditis?

Staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci are the main causes.

Are fungi involved?

Yes, but rarely. Candida and Aspergillus can cause fungal endocarditis.

Can cultures miss the bacteria?

Yes, culture-negative cases account for up to 8 percent of cases.

Which bacteria are most common in healthcare settings?

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common in these settings.

Do all streptococci carry the same risk?

No, risk varies among different streptococcal species.

Know Your Enemy

Identifying the bacteria behind infective endocarditis is key to effective treatment.
Dive deeper into how these bacteria affect your health with Doctronic.
Additional References
  1. Østergaard L, Voldstedlund M, Bruun NE, et al. Temporal Changes, Patient Characteristics, and Mortality, According to Microbiological Cause of Infective Endocarditis: A Nationwide Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e025801.
  2. Chamat-Hedemand S, Dahl A, Østergaard L, et al. Prevalence of Infective Endocarditis in Streptococcal Bloodstream Infections Is Dependent on Streptococcal Species. Circulation 2020; 142:720.
  3. Chambers ST, Murdoch D, Morris A, et al. HACEK infective endocarditis: characteristics and outcomes from a large, multi-national cohort. PLoS One 2013; 8:e63181.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.