bacterial endocarditis

Traditionally, infective endocarditis has been classified as acute or subacute. Acute infective endocarditis generally is caused by Staphylococcus, Pneumococcus, or Gonococcus bacteria or by fungi. This form of endocarditis develops rapidly, with fever, malaise, and other signs of systemic infection coupled with abnormal cardiac function and

…can also result from subacute bacterial endocarditis, a chronic infection of damaged heart valves. The infectious agent is often Streptococcus viridans, normally a harmless inhabitant of the mouth. The bacteria in the heart become covered with a layer of fibrin, which protects them from destruction by granulocytes, while they continue…

…is the increased risk of bacterial endocarditis (inflammation of the heart lining as a result of bacterial infection). This risk is likely to be high during procedures such as dental extractions, when infection may enter the bloodstream.