Endocarditis

Factores de riesgo de endocarditis

Muchos factores pueden aumentar su riesgo de endocarditis. Algunos de estos factores, como tener ciertas afecciones cardíacas o un sistema inmunitario debilitado, están fuera de su control. Sin embargo, otros factores, como una mala salud bucal o cutánea, están bajo su control.

Conocer sus factores de riesgo puede ayudarle a usted y a su médico a comprender sus posibilidades de desarrollar endocarditis, y puede tomar medidas para prevenir la infección y proteger su corazón.

Los factores de riesgo para la endocarditis incluyen:

• Age: Adults older than 65 are more likely to get endocarditis. Age-related changes to the heart valves, such as calcium deposits, give germs more landing spots.
• A history of endocarditis: If you’ve had endocarditis before, your heart tissue may have sustained damage that makes additional inflammation more likely.
• Artificial heart valves: Bacteria may be better able to attach to the foreign material of a prosthetic heart valve than native valve tissue.
• Cardiopatía congénita: Heart abnormalities that exist at birth, such as narrow valves, provide easier places for germs to collect.
• Heart valve disease: If you have a damaged heart valve, germs may be able to attach to it more easily.
• Implanted heart devices: Bacteria may attach to a pacemaker, cardioverter defibrillator or another implanted device, and trigger inflammation.
• Long-term IV use: Consistently receiving medications or using illicit drugs through an IV may allow germs to enter the bloodstream.
• Poor oral health: Not taking care of your teeth and gums can allow bacteria to build up and, potentially, enter the bloodstream.
• Weakened immune system: If your immune system isn’t as strong as it should be, it may struggle to destroy invading bacteria or fungi.

Complicaciones

Sin un tratamiento oportuno, la endocarditis puede provocar graves problemas de salud o la muerte. Pueden producirse ciertos problemas de salud graves si las vegetaciones que se forman en el endocardio se desprenden y bloquean el flujo sanguíneo hacia órganos importantes. En otros casos, pueden surgir complicaciones debido al daño al corazón o a la reacción de su cuerpo a la infección.

Las posibles complicaciones de la endocarditis incluyen:

• Abscesses: Vegetations on the endocardium may cause abscesses (pockets of pus) to form near the affected tissue.
• Arrhythmia: Damage to the heart may interfere with the organ’s pumping ability and cause it to beat irregularly.
• Ataque al corazón: A vegetation that breaks loose from the endocardium may block an artery in the heart, causing a heart attack.
• Insuficiencia cardiaca: If endocarditis damages the heart valves, the heart may have to work harder to pump blood, leading to heart failure.
• Heart valve damage: Vegetations that form on the endocardium can cause holes in the valves, which may worsen their function.
• Sepsis: This condition occurs when your body overreacts to an infection, potentially leading to dangerously low blood pressure and organ failure.
• Carrera: A stroke may occur if a vegetation separates from the endocardium and blocks an artery that feeds blood to the brain.

Diagnóstico de la endocarditis

Your doctor will ask about your health history, including any heart conditions or procedures that could increase your risk for endocarditis. They will also want to learn about your symptoms. The doctor will check you for signs of endocarditis, such as a Soplo cardíaco. Finally, they will order blood and imaging tests to look for infection and determine how well your heart is working.