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Diseases » Endocarditis » Causes

Causes of Endocarditis



Contents

List of causes of Endocarditis

Following is a list of causes or underlying conditions (see also Misdiagnosis of underlying causes of Endocarditis) that could possibly cause Endocarditis includes:

More causes: see full list of causes for Endocarditis

Causes of Endocarditis (Diseases Database):

The follow list shows some of the possible medical causes of Endocarditis that are listed by the Diseases Database:

Source: Diseases Database

Endocarditis as a complication of other conditions:

Other conditions that might have Endocarditis as a complication may, potentially, be an underlying cause of Endocarditis. Our database lists the following as having Endocarditis as a complication of that condition:

Endocarditis as a symptom:

Conditions listing Endocarditis as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Endocarditis. Our database lists the following as having Endocarditis as a symptom of that condition:

Related information on causes of Endocarditis:

As with all medical conditions, there may be many causal factors. Further relevant information on causes of Endocarditis may be found in:

Causes of Endocarditis: Online Medical Books

16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE! Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration, for more information about the causes of Endocarditis.

Myocarditis: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Myocarditis may result from:

❑ bacterial infections — diphtheria; tuberculosis; typhoid fever; tetanus; and staphylococcal, pneumococcal, and gonococcal infections

❑ chemical poisons — such as chronic alcoholism

❑ helminthic infections — such as trichinosis

❑ hypersensitive immune reactions — acute rheumatic fever and postcardiotomy syndrome

❑ parasitic infections — especially South American trypanosomiasis (Chagas’ disease) in infants and immunosuppressed adults; also toxoplasmosis

❑ radiation therapy — large doses of radiation to the chest in treating lung or breast cancer

❑ viral infections (most common cause in the United States and western Europe) — coxsackievirus A and B strains and, possibly, poliomyelitis, influenza, rubeola, rubella, and adenoviruses and echoviruses.

Myocarditis occurs in 1 to 10 of every 100,000 people in the United States. The median age for this disorder is 42, and incidence is equal between males and females. Children, especially neonates, and persons who are immunocompromised or pregnant (especially pregnant black women) are at higher risk for developing this disorder.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Pericarditis: Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))

Common causes of this disease include:

❑ bacterial, fungal, or viral infection (infectious pericarditis)

❑ neoplasms (primary or metastatic from lungs, breasts, or other organs)

❑ high-dose radiation to the chest

❑ uremia

❑ hypersensitivity or autoimmune disease, such as acute rheumatic fever (most common cause of pericarditis in children), systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis

❑ postcardiac injury such as myocardial infarction (MI), which later causes an autoimmune reaction (Dressler’s syndrome) in the pericardium; trauma; or surgery that leaves the pericardium intact but causes blood to leak into the pericardial cavity

❑ drugs, such as hydralazine or procainamide

❑ idiopathic factors (most common in acute pericarditis).

Less common causes include aortic aneurysm with pericardial leakage, and myxedema with cholesterol deposits in the pericardium.

Pericarditis most commonly affects men ages 20 to 50, but it can also occur in children following infection with an adenovirus or coxsackievirus.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005

Myocarditis: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

Myocarditis may result from:

❑ viral infections (most common cause in the United States and western Europe): coxsackievirus A and B strains and, possibly, poliomyelitis, influenza, rubeola, rubella, and adenoviruses and echoviruses

❑ bacterial infections: diphtheria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, tetanus, and staphylococcal, pneumococcal, and gonococcal infections

❑ hypersensitive immune reactions: acute rheumatic fever and postcardiotomy syndrome

❑ radiation therapy: large doses of radiation to the chest in treating lung or breast cancer

❑ chemical poisons: such as chronic alcoholism

❑ parasitic infections: especially South American trypanosomiasis (Chagas’ disease) in infants and immunosuppressed adults; also, toxoplasmosis

❑ helminthic infections: such as trichinosis

❑ medications: penicillin, ampicillin, hydrochlorothiazide, methyldopa, and sulfonamides (may cause hypersensitivity myocarditis)

❑ autoimmune factors: human immunodeficiency virus (has been shown to directly attack the myocardium)

❑ rejection syndrome: rejection of posttransplant hearts (may cause inflammatory myocarditis).

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Pericarditis: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

Common causes of this disease include:

❑ bacterial, fungal, or viral infection (infectious pericarditis)

❑ neoplasms (primary, or metastases from lungs, breasts, or other organs)

❑ high-dose radiation to the chest

❑ uremia

❑ hypersensitivity, systemic disease, or autoimmune disease, such as acute rheumatic fever (most common cause of pericarditis in children), systemic lupus erythematosus, acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome–related disorders, or rheumatoid arthritis

❑ postcardiac injury, such as myocardial infarction (MI), which later causes an autoimmune reaction (Dressler’s syndrome) in the pericardium; trauma or surgery that leaves the pericardium intact but causes blood to leak into the pericardial cavity

❑ drugs, such as hydralazine, nydrazid, phenytoin, and procainamide

❑ idiopathic factors (most common in acute pericarditis).

Less common causes include aortic aneurysm with pericardial leakage and myxedema with cholesterol deposits in the pericardium.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Endocarditis: Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)

Endocarditis occurs most commonly in I.V. drug abusers, patients with prosthetic heart valves, and those with mitral valve prolapse (especially males with a systolic murmur). These conditions have surpassed rheumatic heart disease as the leading risk factor.

Other predisposing conditions include coarctation of the aorta; tetralogy of Fallot; subaortic and valvular aortic stenosis; ventricular septal defects; pulmonary stenosis; Marfan syndrome; degenerative heart disease, especially calcific aortic stenosis; and, rarely, syphilitic aortic valve. Some patients with endocarditis have no underlying heart disease.

Infecting organisms

Organisms that cause infection differ among patient groups. In patients with native valve endocarditis who aren’t I.V. drug abusers, causative organisms usually include, in order of frequency, streptococci (especially Streptococcus viridans), staphylococci, and enterococci. Although many other bacteria occasionally cause the disorder, fungal causes are rare in this group. The mitral valve is involved most commonly, followed by the aortic valve.

In patients who are I.V. drug abusers, Staphylococcus aureus is the most common infecting organism. Less frequently, streptococci, enterococci, gram-negative bacilli, or fungi cause the disorder. Most often the tricuspid valve is involved, followed by the aortic valve and then the mitral valve.

In patients with prosthetic valve endocarditis, “early” cases (those that develop within 60 days of valve insertion) are usually due to staphylococcal infection. Gram-negative aerobic organisms, fungi, streptococci, enterococci, or diphtheroids may also cause the disorder. The course of the infection is commonly fulminating and associated with a high mortality rate. “Late” cases (those that develop after 60 days) present similarly to those of native valve endocarditis.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003

Endocarditis: Endocarditis - risk factors
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)

  • Pre-existing heart disease (congenital or acquired)
  • Prior history of endocarditis
  • Cardiac surgery
  • Prosthetic valves or conduits
  • Indwelling catheters/intravenous drug use

Endocarditis - pathophysiology

  • Infective endocarditis is primarily seen in patients with pre-existing heart disease (congenital or acquired) who develop bacteremia with organisms that are likely to cause infection.
  • IV drug abusers and patients with indwelling central venous catheters may develop endocarditis even in the absence of prior heart disease.
  • Local turbulence secondary to the cardiovascular abnormality is thought to result in damage of the endocardial surface. The development of a fibrin and platelet network occurs in which bacteria may then become entrapped, causing infection.
  • Bacteremia may be a complication of focal infection (e.g., pneumonia, cellulitis, or UTI) or may be associated with various dental and surgical procedures. Bacteremia, however, also occurs spontaneously with usual activities, such as chewing, flossing, and brushing teeth.
  • Peripheral manifestations in chronic endocarditis are mediated by immune complex reactions.

Endocarditis - etiology

  • Gram-positive cocci account for 90% of culture-positive endocarditis. There has been a recent shift in the microbial etiology, corresponding with a more acute presentation
    • Staphylococcus aureus is now responsible for most cases of infective endocarditis in all age groups.
    • α-hemolytic streptococci (Streptococcus viridans) are the 2nd most common pathogen in children over age 1 year.
    • Other organisms that can cause endocarditis are coagulase-negative staphylococci, β-hemolytic streptococci, enterococci, the HACEK group (Haemophilus aphrophilus, Haemophilus paraphrophilus, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corrodens, Kingella species), Candida species, Aspergillus species, Pseudomonas species, pneumococci, and Neisseria species.
  • ~5% of endocarditis cases are reported as culture negative.

» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »

Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008


 » Next page: Risk Factors for Endocarditis

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