risk factors
Last reviewed 01/2018
Risk factors for infective endocarditis include:
- congenital lesions:
- ventral septal defect
- tetralogy of Fallot
- coarctation of aorta
- patent ductus arteriosus
- vascular abnormalities:
- rheumatic involvement of any valve - but now less important in developed countries
- bicuspid or calcific aortic valve
- hypertrophic subaortic stenosis
- mitral valve prolapse - most prevalent
- I.V. drug abuse
- abortion
- prosthetic valve replacement
- cardiac / urinary catheterisation
- any invasive diagnostic or surgical procedure e.g.:
- dental
- upper respiratory
- urological
- lower GI
- less commonly, upper GI and gynaecological