The infection can cause growths on the heart valves, the lining of the heart, or the lining of the blood vessels. These growths may be dislodged and send clots to the brain, lungs, kidneys, or spleen. Many bacteria can cause endocarditis but a common mouth organism, Streptococcus viridans, is responsible for approximately half of all bacterial endocarditis. Other common organisms include staphylococcus and group D streptococcus. Less common organisms include Pseudomonas, Serratia, Candida, and many others.
Fever is a hallmark of both.
In the slower form, fever may be present on a daily basis for months before other symptoms appear. As the illness progresses, small dark lines, called splinter hemorrhages , may appear under the fingernails. The health care provider may hear changing murmurs and detect an enlarged spleen and mild anemia . Murmurs result from changes in blood flow across valves when clumps of bacteria, fibrin and cellular debris, called vegetations, collect on the heart valves. The mitral valve is the most common valve affected, followed by the aortic valve.