How to Treat Heart Valve Infections

A heart valve infection (also called endocarditis) is an inflammation of your heart from bacteria or other pathogens. They occur when pathogens enter your body through your mouth, nose or a break in the skin. The pathogens then spread into your bloodstream and eventually make their way to your heart, attaching to it and infecting it. Heart valve infections can lead to heart failure, making them a serious, life threatening condition.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize the symptoms of a heart valve infection, including unexplained weight loss, paleness and fever. A heart valve infection can show up as night sweats, sudden fatigue or aching joints and muscles. Swelling in your lower extremities and abdomen are also symptoms of a heart valve infection. You may find yourself with shortness of break or a persistent cough. In some cases, blood in your urine or tiny reddish spots in the whites of your eyes can be symptoms, too.

• 2

  Take your symptoms to your doctor immediately so that he can evaluate your condition. Your doctor will listen to your heart through a stethoscope for the presence of a heart murmur. He will also take blood samples to test for the presence of bacteria in your bloodstream. Your doctor may also take a chest X-ray or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to see if the heart valve infection is causing your heart to become enlarged or if the infection is spreading to other areas.

• 3

  Start taking a course of intravenous antibiotics. The type of antibiotics will depend on the exact type of bacteria that was found in your blood. The length of your antibiotic treatment will depend on how well your heart valve infection responds to the treatment. However, most cases will require between four and six weeks of intravenous antibiotics as a hospital inpatient. After you are released, you may still have to visit your doctor regularly to receive intravenous antibiotics for several more weeks depending on your condition.

• 4

  Consider your surgical options if you are still suffering from complications after your heart valve infection has been properly treated. Heart valve infections can damage your heart valve, making it more vulnerable to frequent infection and unable to function. Surgery can repair or replace your heart valve with an artificial valve made from animal tissue.