Endocarditis

Endocarditis refers to an inflammatory disease caused by direct invasion of pathogenic microorganisms into the endocardium. The valves are the most commonly affected site, but infection can also occur at ventricular septal defects, chordae tendineae, and the mural endocardium. Although infections at arteriovenous fistulas, arterial fistulas (such as patent ductus arteriosus), or aortic stenosis sites are classified as endarteritis, their clinical and pathological features are similar to those of infective endocarditis.