Small masses of bacteria or fungus, as well as platelets and fibrin can flick off the valves and cause problems throughout the body. These are called emboli. They can result in strokes, kidney failure, heart attacks, and damage to the gastrointestinal organs. Endocarditis can also result in heart arrhythmias and inflammation of heart tissue. Finally, infective endocarditis can result in abscesses in the heart that are very hard to treat.
Infective endocarditis is treated with antibiotics and with surgery in some situations.
Intravenous antibiotics are used for several weeks to eradicate the organism that caused the condition. But in more serious cases, urgent cardiac surgery is indicated to treat some patients. Surgery is considered particularly when a patient has an artificial heart valve. However, there is new evidence to suggest that certain kinds of bacterial infections of prosthetic valves can be treated with just antibiotics. As described above, infective endocarditis occurs when there is an infection in the blood.