Endocarditis
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
CardiacInfectious Diseasehigh priorityneeds review
Endocarditis
Also testable as: Infective endocarditis
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Microorganisms infect the endocardium or heart valves, often after bloodstream infection risk.
- Vegetations can damage valves, embolize, and cause sepsis or heart failure.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Antibiotics by class | Prolonged IV antimicrobial therapy is common and culture-guided. |
Signs / symptoms
- Fever plus new murmur.
- Petechiae, splinter hemorrhages, Janeway lesions, Osler nodes.
- Blood cultures before antibiotics if ordered and safe.
Nursing actions
- Assess fever, new murmur, petechiae, embolic signs, IV drug use risk, dental/procedure history, and heart failure signs.
- Obtain ordered blood cultures before antibiotics when possible and do not delay urgent sepsis care.
- Monitor for stroke symptoms, worsening dyspnea, and medication toxicity during prolonged therapy.
Complications
- Valve destruction
- Heart failure
- Stroke
- Sepsis
- Renal or splenic emboli
NCLEX cues
- Fever plus new murmur.
- Petechiae, splinter hemorrhages, Janeway lesions, Osler nodes.
- Blood cultures before antibiotics if ordered and safe.
Memory hooks
- Endocarditis grows on valves and can throw emboli.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Blood cultures
- Echocardiogram
- CBC
- ESR/CRP
- Renal function during therapy
Review notes
- Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Source entitycondition card
Endocarditis
Condition card for Endocarditis: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Procedurecondition
Valve repair or replacement care
Procedure or surgery to repair or replace a damaged heart valve.
Termcondition cue
Murmur
An extra or unusual heart sound caused by turbulent blood flow.
Termcondition cue
Petechiae
Tiny pinpoint red or purple spots from capillary bleeding.
Med classmedication safety
Antibiotics by class
Targets bacterial growth or cell structures; exact teaching depends on the antibiotic class.
Procedureprocedure
Blood cultures
Sterile blood samples collected to identify bloodstream infection.
Procedureprocedure
Echocardiogram
Ultrasound of heart structure, valves, movement, and blood flow.