CARDIAC ABSCESS

Course overview

A CARDIAC ABSCESS IS A SUPPURATIVE INFECTION OF THE MYOCARDIUM, ENDOCARDIUM, NATIVE OR PROSTHETIC VALVE TISSUE. SIMILAR TO OTHER ABSCESSES, IT DEVELOPS EITHER BY DISSEMINATION FROM A DISTANT SOURCE SUCH AS BACTEREMIA OR SEPSIS OR BY DIRECT EXTENSION OF A PRE-EXISTING CARDIAC INFECTIVE FOCUS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE CAUSE AND PRESENTATION OF CARDIAC ABSCESSES AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.