What is Subacute bacterial endocarditis?

Answer 1

A chronic bacterial infection of the valves of the heart. Characterized by a slow, quiet onset with fever, heart murmur, splenomegaly, and development of clumps of abnormal tissue, called vegetations, around an intracardiac prosthesis or on the cusps of a valve in the heart. The infected vegetations may separate from the valve or prosthesis and form emboli. Roth's spots, Osler's nodes, petechiae, and splinter hemorrhages under the fingerneails are common manifestations of blood-borne metastases of these emboli. The common causes of SBE are the various species of Streptococcus or Staphylococcus. Dental procedures are associated with infection by Streptococcus faecalis, and self-infection ( especially by drug users) with Staphylococcus aureus. Before surgery or a dental procedure prophylactic antibiotics are given. Bacteriologic examination of cultures of the blood may allow specific diagnosis and treatment. Bed rest and hospitalization may be necessary for several weeks. If a prosthesis has become infected , it is usually removed. Administration of an antibiotic that is known to be the causitive organism is often the treatment. The fever is treated with antipyretic medication and bed rest during the acute phase of illness.