Question 1

explain what is meant if you have a heart valve infection with normal cbcs?

Accepted Answer

Not much: Valvular endocarditis is an infection needing systemic antibiotics and possible surgery. A normal CBC does not have any relationship to the infection. It may be normal or high WBC or low wbc. There may be anemia or not. Same with platelets. If there is an abnormality of CBC with onset of endocarditis a normal CBC may reflect the pt is responding to treatment.

Question 2

what do you suggest if my sister had a heart valve replacement 25 days ago since thah she is in coma and high infection on her lung?

Accepted Answer

Team meeting: You should ask for a meeting with the surgeon, the infectious disease specialist, and the neurologist taking care of her to discuss her status and what they feel her chances for recovery are. You may want to include any other interested family members and any other people you trust for advice in your life. Get the most up to date and precise info you can to aid in your decisions

Question 3

my sister had a heart valve replacement 25 days ago. since then, she has been in a coma and has high infection on her lung. will she be okay?

Accepted Answer

Coma: Your sister is seriously ill. Her doctors can give you a far better assessment of her status and prognosis than from out here.

Question 4

is novocain dangerous for someone w/ a leaking heart valve? they need to have a tooth extracted but are worried about the shot. if someone has a history of having a leaking valve in the heart but needs there tooth pulled out due to an infection and cavity

Accepted Answer

"Novacaine" : "novacaine" is no longer used in dentistry.  There are other anesthetics that are available.  After your complete medical history is reviewed, it will be evaluated and a proper way to procede will be formulated.  Make sure you bring your medical history from your cardiologist so your dentist can review it.

Question 5

if your troponin level is normal, does it mean that your heart valve is allright & not infected by bacterial endocarditis?ty

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily : It depends on what bacteria and if there were heart muscle damage... Not all bacterial endocarditis patients who need their heart valves replaced have elevated troponin. I hope this helped... And with you the best luck!

Question 6

can you advise me if having piercings with a prosthetic heart valve. subacute bacterial endocarditis?

Accepted Answer

No clear guidelines: Prosthetic valve indicates increased risk of endocarditis. Even under current, stricter AHA guidelines, you would need SBE prophylaxis before high-risk procedures, like dental cleaning/extractions, tonsillectomy, I&amp;D of abscesses. No clear data about body piercings, so different MDs have different approaches. Discuss with your MD, but clean the area very well &amp; care for the site after. Take care!

Question 7

what blood test factors would be off if someone had a bacterial infection of the heart?

Accepted Answer

Endocarditis: The primary thing to look for with infectious endocarditis are positive blood cultures. Usually ALL the blood cultures are positive, and they 'turn' positive quite rapidly. If this diagnosis is under consideration, please make sure you get an Infectious Diseases specialist to assist in the diagnosis and management. There are other lab abnormalities too- like urinary findings, elevated sed rate etc

Question 8

i'm having one especially since a bacterial infection from a dental abscess, can it travel to the heart? what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Rare but possible: Abscess from one of the lower teeth can cause swelling of the floor of the mouth (your tongue becomes elevated) and that could compromise breathing.  And if it travel along one of the fascial planes it could lead straight to the heart.  It is rare but it does happen.  You need to be placed on antibiotics and have the tooth evaluated for possible extraction or root canal. Don't wait.

Question 9

can congestive heart failure be from a bacterial infection of vital organs?

Accepted Answer

Not usually.: Except in the case of bacterial infection of the heart valves (endocarditis) or septic shock , this would be very unusual.

Question 10

father in the hospital with a bacterial infection in his toe, possibly in bone. what tests can be run to confirm this prior to amputation? he needs heart surgery so they want to be sure no infection.

Accepted Answer

They will: Probably do X-rays with bone windows of his toe to look for infection in the bone. If they really can't tell maybe a bone scan but that probably won't be needed .

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Bacterial infection of the heart valve

A member asked:

Explain what is meant if you have a heart valve infection with normal cbcs?

A member asked:

What do you suggest if my sister had a heart valve replacement 25 days ago since thah she is in coma and high infection on her lung?

A member asked:

My sister had a heart valve replacement 25 days ago. since then, she has been in a coma and has high infection on her lung. will she be okay?

A member asked:

Is novocain dangerous for someone w/ a leaking heart valve? they need to have a tooth extracted but are worried about the shot. if someone has a history of having a leaking valve in the heart but needs there tooth pulled out due to an infection and cavity

A member asked:

If your troponin level is normal, does it mean that your heart valve is allright & not infected by bacterial endocarditis?ty

A member asked:

Can you advise me if having piercings with a prosthetic heart valve. subacute bacterial endocarditis?

A member asked:

What blood test factors would be off if someone had a bacterial infection of the heart?

A member asked:

I'm having one especially since a bacterial infection from a dental abscess, can it travel to the heart? what should i do?

A member asked:

Can congestive heart failure be from a bacterial infection of vital organs?

A member asked:

Father in the hospital with a bacterial infection in his toe, possibly in bone. what tests can be run to confirm this prior to amputation? he needs heart surgery so they want to be sure no infection.

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?