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Infective endocarditis is an infection of the inner surface of the heart (endocardium), ... Histology or culture of cardiac vegetation, embolized vegetation, or ...
Histopathology of a vegetation of bacterial endocarditis, taken from a valve repair, H&E stain. Abnormal growths in the heart associated with endocarditis In medicine, a vegetation is an abnormal growth [ 1 ] named for its similarity to natural vegetation .
Another form of sterile endocarditis is termed Libman–Sacks endocarditis; this form occurs more often in patients with lupus erythematosus and is thought to be due to the deposition of immune complexes. [2] Like NBTE, Libman-Sacks endocarditis involves small vegetations, while infective endocarditis is composed of large vegetations. [2]
Janeway lesions are rare, non-tender, small erythematous or haemorrhagic macular, papular or nodular lesions on the palms or soles only a few millimeters in diameter that are associated with infective endocarditis and often indistinguishable from Osler's nodes. [1]
Other strains of streptococci can cause subacute endocarditis as well. These include streptococcus intermedius, which can cause acute or subacute infection (about 15% of cases pertaining to infective endocarditis). [7] Enterococci from urinary tract infections and coagulase negative staphylococci can also be causative agents. [5]
Infective endocarditis used to be classified into groups like acute and subacute based on how quickly the infection developed, but nowadays the key is to identify that microbial cause of infection and to treat it as effectively as possible. Viridans Streptococci is the most common cause.
Other signs of endocarditis include Roth's spots and Janeway lesions. The latter, which also occur on the palms and soles, can be differentiated from Osler's nodes because they are non-tender. [3] Osler's nodes can also be seen in Systemic lupus erythematosus; Marantic endocarditis; Disseminated gonococcal infection; Distal to infected arterial ...
Roth's spots, also known as Litten spots or the Litten sign, [1] are non-specific red lesions with white or pale centres, seen on the retina of the eye and although traditionally associated with infective endocarditis, can occur in a number of other conditions including hypertension, diabetes, collagen vascular disease, extreme hypoxia, leukemia and HIV.