Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Endocarditis I: Introduction

Endocarditis I: Introduction

Introduction:Endocarditis is the infection of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart and its valves. When the heart muscle is involved, the condition is termed myocarditis, while an infection of the outer lining is called pericarditis. Infective endocarditis (IE) primarily affects the endocardium, where pathogens adhere to the valves or lining, forming vegetation that can lead to severe complications. Infective endocarditis occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from other body...

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...

Endocarditis III: Medical Management

Endocarditis III: Medical Management

Infective endocarditis management involves a multifaceted approach encompassing infection prevention, lifestyle modifications, pharmacological therapy, and surgical management.Infection Prevention:Hand Hygiene: Thorough handwashing is crucial to prevent the spread of infection. Hand hygiene should be performed regularly, especially before and after using the restroom.Oral Hygiene: Good oral hygiene is essential. It includes brushing teeth immediately after waking up and before bed, flossing...

Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management

Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a chronic infection of the heart's endocardium, primarily affecting the heart valves. A detailed nursing assessment for a patient with IE involves collecting subjective and objective data to ensure an accurate diagnosis and timely intervention.Subjective DataThe nurse gathers information about the patient's symptoms and complaints during the subjective assessment. Patients with infective endocarditis often report non-specific symptoms that can mimic other...

Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Myocarditis II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Tests

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. The symptoms vary widely, encompassing asymptomatic presentations to severe, acute manifestations.Clinical PresentationAsymptomatic cases: In some instances, myocarditis may be asymptomatic, with the infection resolving without intervention. These cases often go undetected unless discovered incidentally through diagnostic imaging or tests conducted for other reasons.General Early Symptoms: Early symptoms of myocarditis are non-specific and can...

Myocarditis III: Medical Management

Myocarditis III: Medical Management

Myocarditis: Comprehensive Medical ManagementMyocarditis, the heart muscle inflammation, requires a comprehensive medical management strategy that addresses the underlying cause, provides supportive care, manages symptoms, and reduces cardiac workload.Infections and Autoimmune CausesAdminister appropriate antimicrobial therapy when an infectious agent causes myocarditis. For instance, penicillin treats infections caused by Group A Streptococcus. In cases where autoimmune processes are...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Palliative care physicians' experiences of end-of-life communication: A focus group study.

European journal of cancer care·2017

Same author

An exploration of patient-reported symptoms in systemic lupus erythematosus and the relationship to health-related quality of life.

Scandinavian journal of rheumatology·2012

Same author

Detection of pulsed gamma rays above 100 GeV from the Crab pulsar.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2011

Same author

Push or pull? Relationships between lung cancer patients' perceptions of quality of care and use of complementary and alternative medicine.

European journal of oncology nursing : the official journal of European Oncology Nursing Society·2010

Same author

The International Circumpolar Surveillance interlaboratory quality control program for Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1999 to 2008.

Journal of clinical microbiology·2010

Same author

Changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Alberta, Canada: population-based surveillance, 2005-2008.

Epidemiology and infection·2010

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Gemella species endocarditis in a child.

L K Purcell¹, J P Finley, R Chen

¹Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University and the IWK Grace Health Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia;

The Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases = Journal Canadien Des Maladies Infectieuses

|December 27, 2007

Summary

Gemella bacteria can cause severe illness. This case study details the successful treatment of endocarditis in a pediatric patient with congenital heart disease caused by Gemella species.

Keywords:

Endocarditis Gemella species Paediatrics

Related Experiment Videos

Area of Science:

Infectious Diseases
Cardiology
Microbiology

Background:

The genus Gemella comprises bacteria capable of causing serious systemic infections.
Endocarditis, an infection of the heart lining, can be life-threatening, particularly in individuals with underlying cardiac conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

To report a successfully treated case of Gemella-induced endocarditis in a pediatric patient with congenital heart disease.
To highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with Gemella infections.

Main Methods:

Clinical presentation and echocardiographic findings of a 12-year-old girl with endocarditis were documented.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing guided the treatment regimen.
Attempts were made to identify the Gemella species through laboratory analysis.

Main Results:

The patient presented with symptoms including cough, fatigue, and decreased appetite, without fever.
Echocardiography revealed severe mitral insufficiency, mitral valve vegetations, and cardiac chamber enlargement.
Initial treatment with vancomycin was followed by the addition of gentamicin to resolve persistent bacteremia, with subsequent completion of therapy using penicillin G and gentamicin.

Conclusions:

Gemella species can cause severe endocarditis, even in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease.
Multidrug antimicrobial therapy may be required for successful treatment.
Accurate species identification of Gemella isolates can be challenging and requires further investigation.