The topic Infective Endocarditis in Injection Drug Users you are seeking is a synonym, or alternative name, or is closely related to the medical condition Intravenous Drug Abuse Endocarditis.

Quick Summary:

• Infective endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves or the heart’s inner lining, known as the endocardium. Infective endocarditis is usually caused by a bacteria or a fungus
• Intravenous Drug Abuse Endocarditis occurs in individuals who share contaminated needles and syringes while using illegal drugs. It is usually caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus. It may be also caused by Streptococcus or Enterococcus bacterium
• The infection from the site of injection (hand or arm) may enter the bloodstream (usually resulting in bacteremia) and attack the lining of the heart or the heart valves. Intravenous Drug Abuse Endocarditis often goes underdiagnosed
• Infective Endocarditis in Intravenous Drug Abusers can occur at any age, but it generally affects young adults who are addicted to the usage of injectable drugs. Such individuals may not have any history of heart-related abnormalities or diseases
• The signs and symptoms of Intravenous Drug Abuse Endocarditis range from low-grade fever, fatigue, and joint pain, to severe features that include stroke (sudden weakness of limbs or face due to disruption of brain’s blood supply), cardiac arrhythmias, and damage to kidney and spleen
• The treatment of Intravenous Drug Abuse Endocarditis is based on the organism type causing the infection. Bacterial infection is treated through intravenous antibiotics and fungal infection using antifungal medication. Surgery may be required in some cases
• Untreated Intravenous Drug Abuse Endocarditis can lead to an extremely poor prognosis and is almost always be fatal. With appropriate early diagnosis and treatment, the outcomes are better. However, the prognosis also depends upon a set of factors including the type of organism causing infection, the health status of the individual, and the presence of any heart illnesses, among other factors

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