Risk factors for Bacterial Endocarditis

The following conditions put you at greater risk during certain procedures:

• Heart valve scarring, due to rheumatic fever or other conditions
• Artificial heart valve
• Congenital heart defect
• Cardiomyopathy
• Prior episode of endocarditis
• Mitral valve prolapse , with significant regurgitation (abnormal backflow of blood)

The conditions listed above increase your risk of the infection with certain activities such as:

• IV drug use; risk is extremely high when needles are shared
• Any dental procedure, even cleanings
• Removal of tonsils or adenoids , and other procedures involving the ears, nose, and throat
• Bronchoscopy (viewing the airways though a thin, lighted tube)
• Surgery on the gastrointestinal or urinary tracks, including the gallbladder and prostate