Changes

Radiography is often unremarkable. There may be evidence of cardiomegaly or congestive heart failure if valvular damage is chronic or severe. Evidence of a focus of infection such as discospondylitis may be visible.

Radiography is often unremarkable. There may be evidence of cardiomegaly or congestive heart failure if valvular damage is chronic or severe. Evidence of a focus of infection such as discospondylitis may be visible.

===Electrogcardiogram (ECG)===

===Electrogcardiogram (ECG)===

ECG may be normal. Arrhythmias detectected are often ventricular in origin (e.g. ventricular premature complexes) and represent extension fo the inflammatory focus to invlove the moycoardium. 3rd degree heart block may be present if the AV node is affected.  

ECG may be normal. Arrhythmias detectected are often ventricular in origin (e.g. ventricular premature complexes) and represent extension fo the inflammatory focus to invlove the moycoardium. 3rd degree heart block may be present if the AV node is affected.

 

==Treatment==

==Treatment==

Antibiotic treatment with either a broad spectrum antibiotic or an appropriate antibiotic based on cultre and sensitivity results. Antibiotics should be administered intravenously for the first 5 days of therapy followed by a proloned course (>4 weeks) of oral medication.  

Antibiotic treatment with either a broad spectrum antibiotic or an appropriate antibiotic based on cultre and sensitivity results. Antibiotics should be administered intravenously for the first 5 days of therapy followed by a proloned course (>4 weeks) of oral medication.