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Endocarditis, a heart condition, "is an infection of the inner lining of the heart," the inner lining being the endocardium (Mayo Clinic Staff). According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition "typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of [one's] body....spread through the bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in [the] heart" (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Endocarditis has the ability to damage or completely destroy the heart when left untreated and can also lead to life-threatening complications; there are treatments that include antibiotics and, in sometimes more severe cases, surgery (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). To truly understand the heart condition, it would be useful to evaluate some causes, symptoms, risk factors, explore some clinical trials on the condition, and ultimately, treatments for the condition and prevention methods.
Foremost, the causes, symptoms and risk factors of endocarditis are important to explore in detail to better understand the heart condition. Endocarditis, or infective endocarditis (IE), is caused by bacteria, fungi, or other germs invade the bloodstream and...
Department of Health and Human Services). A common denominator in this condition is that the heart has a structural defect, "especially faulty heart valves" (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). The way that bacteria can enter the body is quite common though- brushing one's teeth or having certain dental procedures can be the way that bacteria can be absorbed into the bloodstream (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Other causes include infections or other medical conditions where bacteria can spread from the origin, and catheters or needles where bacteria can enter easily (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2011). Symptoms of endocarditis may develop slowly over time or acutely (Levy, 2010). Though fever is considered a classic symptom, others include abnormal urine color, blood in the urine, chills, excessive sweating, fatigue, joint pain, among other things (Levy, 2010). Risk factors for endocarditis include those individuals who have artificial heart valves, congenital heart defects, and a history of endocarditis, and have damaged heart valves or those…
Bibliography
Levy, Daniel. (2010, May 7). Infectious endocarditis. Retrieved from http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/infectious-endocarditis/overview.html
Mayo Clinic Staff, Initials. (2011, August 11). Endocarditis. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endocarditis/DS00409
U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Initials. (n.d.). What causes endocarditis?. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/endo/endo_causes.html
Source: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content-nw/full/111/23/e394/TBLIB Echocardiographic Features That Suggest Potential Need for Surgical Intervention Vegetation Persistent vegetation after systemic embolization Anterior mitral leaflet vegetation, particularly with size >10 mm* embolic events during first 2 wk of antimicrobial therapy* Increase in vegetation size despite appropriate antimicrobial http://circ.ahajournals.org/math/dagger.gif Valvular dysfunction Acute aortic or mitral insufficiency with signs of ventricular http://circ.ahajournals.org/math/dagger.gif Heart failure unresponsive to medical http://circ.ahajournals.org/math/dagger.gif Valve perforation or http://circ.ahajournals.org/math/dagger.gif Perivalvular extension Valvular dehiscence, rupture, or http://circ.ahajournals.org/math/dagger.gif New heart http://circ.ahajournals.org/math/dagger.gif Large abscess or extension of abscess despite appropriate
These defects or conditions are categorized according to the problems, which develop. One problem is when too much blood passes through the lungs. Another is when too little passes through the lungs. A third is when too little blood circulates in the body. And a fourth is a combination of several heart defects, presenting as a complex problem. Pediatric cardiologists are the specialists treating babies with congenital heart problems
Congestive Heart Failure It is a fact that Congestive Heart Failure is an extremely frightening word and an equally frightening concept to comprehend, and when a loved one, or oneself has been diagnosed with this condition, it is quite natural to relapse into a state of depression or panic. However, it is not an untreatable disease, and with the correct and appropriate treatment methods, and with the right physician attending, the
Advance Directives should include documented patient decisions about health care, which should be honored (Advanced practice in nursing: ethical and role issues in end-of-life care, 2004). As medical knowledge and technology increase, so do options for healthcare. When decisions arise concerning the treatment of dying patients, these options present complex ethical dilemmas. Many are faced with decisions about the best treatment to ease a patient's final suffering (End of Life Care:
Even though the heart works harder, blockages still shortchange the needed blood supply to all areas of the body. Kidney disorders, which leave extra fluids, sodium, and toxins in the body, obesity, diabetes, birth control pills, pregnancy, smoking, excess alcohol, stress, and thyroid and adrenal gland problems can also cause and exacerbate a high blood pressure condition. Proper ranges of cholesterol are also important in the prevention of heart attack
Psuedomonas Aeruginosa Pseudomonas aeruginosa Epidemiology The Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic killer that takes advantage of people suffering from medical problems (Van Delden and Iglewski, 1998).For this reason, P. aeruginosa is one of the most common nosocomial infection that occurs in hospitals. P. aeruginosa is responsible for causing 16% of pneumonia cases, 12% of urinary tract infections, 10% of bloodstream infections, and 8% of surgical infections due to hospital