Questions and Answers Correctly
Solved 2025-2026 Edition.
What parts of the heart are involved in infective endocarditis (IE)? - Answer the
endocardium and heart valves (aortic and mitral)
What organisms cause infective endocarditis? - Answer S. aureus, streptococcus viridans,
HACEK organisms
What are the risk factors for developing infective endocarditis (IE)? - Answer hx of IE, IV drug
use, prosthetic valve, health care associated infection from intravascular device (MRSA), renal
dialysis
3 stages of IE development - Answer 1. bacteremia
2. adhesion
3.vegetation (primary lesions of IE)
What can happen if infection of IE spreads? - Answer dysrhythmia, valve dysfunction
invasion of myocardium can cause heart failure, sepsis, or heart block
What happens when valve vegetations form? - Answer Left sided heart vegetations—travel
to brain, kidneys, spleen, liver, and extremities causing limb infarction
Right sided heart vegetations---travel to the lungs causing PE
Symptoms of IE - Answer Fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, anorexia
Vascular signs: Splinter hemorrhages, Osler's nodes, Janeway's lesions, Roth's spots
Splinter hemorrhages - Answer black longitudinal streaks in nail beds
Osler's nodes - Answer painful red or purple nodules on finger and toe pads
, What abnormal heart sounds occur from IE? - Answer New or worsening heart murmur
Regurgitation murmurs
Tricuspid IE- murmurs aren't heard bc the heart sounds are too low to be heard
TRUE OR FALSE:
heart failure is common with IE - Answer TRUE
What diagnostics determine IE? - Answer Blood cultures from 3 different sites, elevated ESR
and CRP, cardiac biomarkers
Echo can show vegetations
How do you determine what antibiotics to use for IE? - Answer 2 sets of blood cultures every
24-48 hrs until infection is cleared
How do you treat fever from IE? How long does antibiotic treatment last? - Answer If it
persists after treatment, use aspirin, acetaminophen, fluids, and rest
Antibiotic treatment generally lasts 4-6 weeks
Conditions requiring antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent infective endocarditis - Answer
Congenital heart disease, heart transplant recipients, hx of IE, prosthetic heart valve
Dental manipulation, respiratory tract incisions, tonsillectomy, surgical procedures involving skin
or musculoskeletal system
Reasons for valve replacement - Answer Fungal IE and PVE respond poorly to antibiotics—
need valve replacement
Reasons to perform: valve dysfunction causing HF, prevent embolization, and uncontrolled
infection
What is acute pericarditis? - Answer Inflammation of the pericardium, often with fluid
accumulation
What causes acute pericarditis? - Answer Most causes are unknown or viral.
Hand-foot-mouth disease, common cold, GI illness, bacterial infection, acute MI, radiation,