<unk>  is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. It usually involves the heart valves. While acute bacterial<unk>  is caused by an infection with a virulent organism such as Staphylococcus aureus, group A or other beta-hemolytic streptococci, subacute bacterial<unk>  is an indolent infection with less virulent organisms such as streptococcus viridans.  Patients with unexplained fever for more than 48 hours and who are at high risk for infective<unk>  and patients among whom valve regurgitation is newly diagnosed should undergo a diagnostic workup to rule out<unk> .  The diagnosis of<unk>  depends on a thorough history and physical exam as well as on the results of the blood cultures and the findings on transthoracic echocardiogram or transesophageal echocardiogram.  The modified Duke criteria is used to establish the diagnosis of<unk> .<unk>  is initially treated with empiric antibiotic therapy until the causative agent is identified.
Endocarditis
Myocarditis
Infective endocarditis
Myopericarditis
Constrictive pericarditis
Cholesterol pericarditis
Tuberculous pericarditis
Pericarditis