mechanical valve infections?

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wcasey5

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2008
Messages
170
Location
Baltimore MD
What type of things can lead to getting an infection on my valve? I'm thinking of things from dental pre-treatment to strep throat. what can happen? shat symptoms?

I'm being very paranoid because during alergy season I usually pick up some kind of bug. And I'm not feeling the greatest right now. Thanks for any input.
 
Pretty much you've hit it. Strep, Staph, the superbugs MRSA, bacteria from our mouthes (Though according to Medicare, there isnt' enough evidence supporting this).

As for symptoms, well your going to feel very very sick and have a very high temperature. Your going to be in an emergency situation in just a little bit of time.

Are you being paranoid? Maybe. I'd rather you be paranoid and on constant watch then to think nothing of it, but in honesty, it's not very common. It does happen, just not as much as one might think.
 
O.K., so this would show up like a regular bacterial infection. If I get an infection, is it treatable with anti-biotics? Would I need more or less? Does it lead to mor operations? *shudder*.

Thanks for the info.
 
Most are treatable with high power (Vancomycin, the last line of defense) antibiotics and yes, it's possible that if the bug sets up shop on the valve that you could require a new valve.

I had a staph infection off of the IV line right after surgery. My temp climbed to 106f and the call was made to my family that I was not going to make it. Got an infectious disease Doctor in on the case and that man literally saved my life. He threw a whole mess of different antibiotics into me. I looked like Linda Blair in the exorcist with all the weird boils a sprang up with, but darned if he didn't stop it from setting up on my brand new valve.
 
An unattended strep throat infection led to all my troubles 37 years ago. Strep turned into rheumatic fever which virtually destroyed my aortic & mitral valves! :eek:

Endocarditis is also very dangerous & it can be contracted thru dental infections as well as:

* an artificial (prosthetic) heart valve
* a history of previous endocarditis
* heart valves damaged (scarred) by conditions such as rheumatic fever
* various kinds of congenital heart defects
* hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (hi"per-TRO'fik kar"de-o-mi-OP'ah-the)
people who have had a heart transplant who develop a heart valve abnormality.

Staying in tune with your body and it's symptoms, education, definitely play a big role with the longevity & health of your valves.
 
Thank you very very much.

Being paranoid again, how dor they test for an infection on the valve? Can they see this with an echo? Or is it just a symptom based diagnosis?

Thanks again!
 
wcasey5 said:
Thank you very very much.

Being paranoid again, how dor they test for an infection on the valve? Can they see this with an echo? Or is it just a symptom based diagnosis?

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Blood culture if it's in the early stages and then in later, dark spots on the sewing cuff by echo.
 
Per the instructions of my docs, I have always been careful to seek medical advice/treatment for any throat infection (other than minor sore throats). Seldom have I had any type of strep, or strep like, infection that required anti-biotics.

Premedication prior to dental work was not required, by my dentists, until in the 1980s. That means I went to the dentist for almost 20 years with no thought given to premedication. I now premedicate with amoxicilin(sp ?) prior to any dental work that involves "stirring up bacteria".

I can't and don't live in a steril envirenment. I try to use good judgement to protect against infections, but I have never taken extraordinary precautions to guard against infection and when I get one, I treat it as necessary.
 
I must say, I really appreciate the advice and information. I am really paranoid about this, Thanks, and I think my throat feels sore! :D Maybe its psycosomatic.
 
When I had endocarditis, they did blood cultures first. Then I had a TEE to check for vegetation on the valve. I was on penicillin and gentemycin for 5 days in the hospital. Then I had a PICC line and a portable pump at home. the penicillin had to be changed every day. Long story. Nothing I want to repeat!!!
 
Hey, there!
I don't know much about endo since my valve repair was because of severe regurgitation, but I can completely empathize with you. The thought of endocarditis scares me silly! For months I was completely freaked about getting it. Started when the cardio caring for me in the hospital post-op saw that my temperature had spiked slightly and mentioned something about a "valve infection." Thankfully, that didn't happen. When I needed a dental cleaning 4 months after my surgery, I was completely scared, even though I'd loaded up with Biaxin (antibiotic) before the procedure.

I still worry at times about crap affecting my valve, and not just bacteria and viruses. Stress, my own personal "high-strungness" (or what my cardio thinks is anxiety), and all that, I think, sometimes make me worry about what it's all doing to my heart.

Don't feel bad about being paranoid. You're not the only one, and interestingly enough, it comes with the territory of being a valver.

Funny thing is, I didn't worry much about my valve until I needed surgery, and now that I'm almost 2 1/2 years out, not a day goes by that I don't think about it.

Best,
Debi (debster913)
 
Is endocarditis strictly a bacterial thing or can it be fungal? As I mentioned on a previous "small talk" thread, Jerry was finally diagnosed with a rather rare fungal infection, Blastomycosis, after being treated for what they thought was pneumonia. He's scheduled to see an infectious disease specialist next week. He started getting sick in July & is practically well now so I guess if endocarditis was going to happen it would've by now. Right?

And, for that matter, we didn't even think to ask if he should've had pre-meds before his bronchoscopy/lung biopsy. Not sure if that would apply.
 
I work at a major University with a student body from all corners of the earth. I'm probably going to drive my primary nuts... Until my AVR the possibility of rare tropical diseases crossed my mind but I really never gave it much thought...until now. :confused:
 
csutherland said:
Is endocarditis strictly a bacterial thing or can it be fungal? As I mentioned on a previous "small talk" thread, Jerry was finally diagnosed with a rather rare fungal infection, Blastomycosis, after being treated for what they thought was pneumonia. He's scheduled to see an infectious disease specialist next week. He started getting sick in July & is practically well now so I guess if endocarditis was going to happen it would've by now. Right?

And, for that matter, we didn't even think to ask if he should've had pre-meds before his bronchoscopy/lung biopsy. Not sure if that would apply.
Click to expand...

It is bacterial. Fungal isn't going to do it.
 
csutherland said:
Is endocarditis strictly a bacterial thing or can it be fungal? As I mentioned on a previous "small talk" thread, Jerry was finally diagnosed with a rather rare fungal infection, Blastomycosis, after being treated for what they thought was pneumonia. He's scheduled to see an infectious disease specialist next week. He started getting sick in July & is practically well now so I guess if endocarditis was going to happen it would've by now. Right?

And, for that matter, we didn't even think to ask if he should've had pre-meds before his bronchoscopy/lung biopsy. Not sure if that would apply.
Click to expand...
I don't know exactly, Celia, but did a quick web search and found the following information:

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/TOPIC2512.HTM

"...Fungal endocarditis (FE) remains a rare infection, although its incidence is increasing because more neonates are in intensive care and more neonates are undergoing cardiac surgical procedures and central hyperalimentation (CHA). It rarely affects native valves and occurs most frequently in neonates as part of a disseminated fungal infection, in patients following cardiac surgery, or in those who develop an intracardiac thrombus or valvular injury due to a central venous catheter (CVC). Fungal endocarditis is often difficult to diagnose because the presentation may be nonspecific and the disease typically occurs in otherwise critically ill patients with confusing clinical pictures..."
 
lovejoy said:
Hi Roger Frank,
just wondering, did you go to wildcats game today? I spent the day at hospital with my father-in-law. I am just south of manhattan in Council Grove. Just thought I would say hi to another valver !!
Click to expand...

Hi lovejoy! Small world!

I actually spent the afternoon at the Council Grove city lake enjoying the beautiful fall day! :)
 
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