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Search for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions at the CrashCards MedCenter Directory Rated:
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Bacterial Endocarditis (CR005)
Bacterial endocarditis (BE) is a serious infection of the endocardium or the heart that occurs when certain bacteria in the bloodstream adhere onto abnormal heart valves or other damaged heart tissue. The resulting infection can rapidly and severely damage the heart valves. A common causative bacteria is staphylococcus, but any organism entering the bloodstream from any site of prior infection can lead to the development of BE. Subacute bacterial endocarditis (SBE) occurs when bacteria lodge on damaged heart valves and produce clusters or vegetations, on the valves. Frequently symptoms of SBE are mild or vague. Pieces of these vegetations may dislodge and travel through the blood as emboli to such areas as the brain, spleen, or kidneys. SBE is usually caused by either streptococcus (other than group A) or enterococcus bacteria. Management of IE traditionally required a lengthy hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics. The recent trend, however, is to use shorter treatment courses, oral and once-daily regimens and outpatient programs. Prompt diagnosis, identification of the causative organism, recognition of complications, and timely initiation of effective treatment with the appropriate antibiotic is important to ensuring a good outcome. Another goal is prevention of BE in persons with increased risk due to valve or heart conditions by administering preventive (prophylactic) antibiotics prior to high-risk procedures. The Medifocus Guide on Bacterial Endocarditis provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness. MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process. 
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