Culture-negative endocarditis
Endocarditis (culture-negative)Culture-negative endocarditis is an infection and inflammation of the lining of one or more heart valves, but in which no endocarditis-causing germs can be found in a routine blood culture. This is because certain germs do not grow well in a laboratory setting, or some people have received antibiotics in the past that keep such germs from growing outside of the body.
Blood culture
A blood culture is a laboratory test to check for bacteria or other germs in a blood sample.
Endocarditis is usually a result of a bloodstream infection. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream during certain medical procedures, including dental procedures or through intravenous injection using non-sterile needles. Then bacteria can travel to the heart, where they can settle on heart valves.
Endocarditis
Endocarditis is inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). It is caused by a bacterial or, rarely, a fu...
References
Baddour LM, Anavekar NS, Crestanello JA, Wilson WR. Infectious endocarditis and infections of indwelling devices. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 80.
Holland TL, Bayer AS, Fowler VG. Endocarditis and intravascular infection. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 80.
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Culture-negative endocarditis - illustration
Endocarditis is an infection and inflammation of the valves in the heart. When the infection cannot be cultured and linked to any causative organism from the bloodstream, it is referred to as culture-negative endocarditis.
Culture-negative endocarditis
illustration
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Culture-negative endocarditis - illustration
Endocarditis is an infection and inflammation of the valves in the heart. When the infection cannot be cultured and linked to any causative organism from the bloodstream, it is referred to as culture-negative endocarditis.
Culture-negative endocarditis
illustration
Review Date: 12/4/2022
Reviewed By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Associate Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.