Gynaecology patients and elderly men with prostatitis are at risk of developing endocarditis caused by enterococci. Return to top of the page Vegetations Bacteria causing endocarditis settle on previously-damaged valves. This is made easier because damage to valves causes disturbances in the blood flow, with areas of relatively little blood movement. Micro-colonies develop on the damaged valve surface and these act as foci for the deposition of platelets and fibrin. These then form a vegetation on the surface of the valve.
Vegetations typically develop along the closing surface of the valve.
As the vegetations grow on infected heart valves, they become friable - bits break off. These form infected emboli that can seed infection elsewhere in the body. Septic emboli may cause distal infections such as abscesses. The bacteria that cause endocarditis also stimulate the formation of circulating immune complexes. These can then go on to cause further damage, for example to cause renal failure.