Publication details
Infekční endokarditida
| Title in English | Infective Endocarditis |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2017 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Kardiologická revue - Interní medicína |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Cardiovascular diseases incl. cardiosurgery |
| Keywords | endocarditis; valve disease; echocardiography; infection |
| Description | Infective endocarditis is an inflammatory heart disease which affects the endocardium, as well as artificial prosthetic materials within the heart cavities. The disease remains one of the most serious infectious diseases due to changes in its clinical course and microbial etiology in an era which has seen an increase in the use of artificial implants. Classifying infective endocarditis according to the type of condition and epidemiology factors is important for the correct choice of initial empirical treatment and subsequent treatment strategy. A targeted antibiotic regimen is then determined on the basis of identification of the causative agent. The most frequent agents affecting the endocardium include Staphylococcus aureus and the viridans streptococci. The diagnosis of infective endocarditis is based on microbiological findings, along with imaging methods, especially echocardiography, which demonstrate the presence of the infection within the heart cavities. The treatment of infective endocarditis requires a comprehensive approach in close interdisciplinary collaboration and should be provided in cooperation with Endocarditis Teams in specialised centres. The prevention of infective endocarditis includes basic sanitary measures applied across the whole population to prevent bacteraemia combined with antibiotic prophylaxis administered in a small group of high-risk individuals. |