Serious & Notifiable Infections — Flashcards

Flashcard 101: Initial empiric antibiotic management for infective endocarditis in a native valve usually includes _____ or _____

Answer: flucloxacillin and gentamicin

Extra: Guidelines (e.g., NICE/ESC) advise tailored empiric therapy based on the clinical setting (community vs. healthcare-associated) and patient allergies. Amoxicillin alone is insufficient as it misses Staphylococcus aureus, the most common cause of acute IE.

Flashcard 102: One symptom associated with bacterial endocarditis is _____, which are small, nontender, erythematous lesions on the palm or sole

Answer: Janeway lesions

Flashcard 103: One symptom associated with bacterial endocarditis is _____, which occurs as blood flows over vegetations on the heart valve

Answer: murmur

Flashcard 104: Initial antibiotic management for infective endocarditis in a prosthetic valve is _____

Answer: vancomycin + gentamicin + rifampicin

Flashcard 105: What is the most common symptom of bacterial endocarditis? _____

Answer: Fever

Flashcard 106: What is the initial investigation for infective endocarditis? _____

Answer: Blood cultures - 3 sets of blood cultures taken from different sites

Flashcard 107: Endocarditis secondary to IVDU most commonly affects the _____ valve

Answer: tricuspid

Flashcard 108: A patient with _____ AND new heart murmur is infective endocarditis until proven otherwise

Answer: fever

Flashcard 109: What is the management in severe infective endocarditis (valvular incompetence, resistance, heart failure, embolic events)? _____

Answer: Surgery - valve replacement/repair to remove the infection

Flashcard 110: What is the prophylaxis for infective endocarditis in dental procedures? _____

Answer: None, NICE recommend no prophylaxis contradictory to other recommendations