<unk>  is an infection in the endothelium of the heart, including but not limited to the valves.  While acute bacterial endocarditis is caused by an infection with a virulent organism such as staphylococcus aureus, group A or other beta-hemolytic streptococci, subacute bacterial endocarditis is an indolent infection with less virulent organisms like streptococcus viridans.  Patients with unexplained fever for more than 48 hours and who are at high risk for<unk>  and patients among whom valve regurgitation is newly diagnosed should undergo a diagnostic workup to rule out endocarditis.  The diagnosis of endocarditis depends on a thorough history and physical exam as well as the results of blood cultures and the findings on transthoracic echocardiogram or transesophageal echocardiogram.  The modified Duke criteria is used to establish the diagnosis of endocarditis.  Endocarditis is initially treated with empiric antibiotic therapy until the causative agent is identified.
Infective endocarditis
Libman-Sacks endocarditis
Loeffler endocarditis
Tuberculous pericarditis
Cholesterol pericarditis
Radiation induced pericarditis
Nocardiosis
Giant cell myocarditis