Treatment
When endocarditis is caused by a bacterial infection is usually treated with two to six weeks of antibiotics, including penicillins, cephalosporins, gentamicin (Garamycin, Gentamar, G-Myticin) or vancomycin (Vancocin). The type of antibiotic and length of treatment depend on the results of blood cultures.
In most cases, the antibiotics were administered intravenously (into a vein), while you are hospitalized. However, highly motivated patients with Streptococcus viridans endocarditis and stable cardiac function can be treated at home.
In patients with these conditions, the infected heart valve surgery should be replaced by:
- important enough damage to the mitral or aortic valves that may cause reflux of blood through the arteries (valvular insufficiency) with heart failure
- valve dysfunction and persistent infection after 7 to 10 days of proper antibiotic treatment
abnormal growth (vegetation) greater than 10 millimeters (seen by echocardiography) that hangs from a heart valve.
Endocarditis caused by a fungus rather than bacteria. Fungal endocarditis often responds poorly to intravenous antifungal medications.
When To Call a Professional
Call your doctor whenever you have symptoms of acute or subacute endocarditis, especially if you have a history of heart valve damage, detected a heart murmur or a device implanted in his heart (artificial valve or pacemaker wire).
Forecast
With prompt diagnosis and appropriate medical treatment, about 90 percent of patients with bacterial endocarditis recover. Those in whom endocarditis affects the right side of the heart usually have better prognosis than patients with left heart side. In cases in which endocarditis is caused by fungi, the prognosis is usually worse than those suffering from bacterial endocarditis.
Some possible complications of endocarditis include:
- congestive heart failure
- detached blood clots, called emboli in the bloodstream to lodge in the brain, lungs, or coronary arteries.
- kidney problems
If endocarditis is not treated, can be fatal in less than six weeks. Subacute endocarditis untreated can cause death within six weeks a year.
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