Essay On Endocarditis
Introduction
Clinically defined, Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart. Endocarditis occurs when bacteria enters the body and spreads through the blood stream. Once in the blood, the bacteria will latch on to any damaged or weakened parts of the heart, and in most cases the heart valves are targeted. Endocarditis is extremely rare for individuals with healthy hearts and immune systems, but those with weakened immune systems, preexisting heart conditions, or individuals that have had previous heart procedures are at a higher risk of contracting the infection. There are three leading culprit bacteria that cause Endocarditis. These are the Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococci, and Staphylococci bacterium. These bacteria’s …show more content…
This bacterium is found in dental plaque. The plaque on our gums and teeth is comprised of a complex structure created by Streptococcus mutans that allow the bacteria to live and survive successfully in our mouths. When these mutans are active they are producing an acid that slowly begins to erode our gums and teeth. Even though this bacterium occurs naturally in even the healthiest of mouths, when one undergoes a dental procedure or your gums sustain a trauma such as flossing too forcefully causing them to bleed, the bacteria is released and enters the blood stream. In most instances your immune system will serve its purpose to detect the foreign bacteria in the blood and resolve itself on its own. In the instance that an individual with a heart condition contracts Endocarditis, the Streptococcus mutans are allowed to travel greater distances without being detected by the immune system, where they are allowed to travel quickly to the heart and penetrate the cells in the heart valves. Microbiologist Dr. Jacqueline Abranches and her team at the University of Florida conducted studies of the Streptococcus mutan and actively identified a collagen binding protein identified as the CNM protein that allows a Streptococcus mutan to infiltrate weakened parts of the
Clinically defined, Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of the heart. Endocarditis occurs when bacteria enters the body and spreads through the blood stream. Once in the blood, the bacteria will latch on to any damaged or weakened parts of the heart, and in most cases the heart valves are targeted. Endocarditis is extremely rare for individuals with healthy hearts and immune systems, but those with weakened immune systems, preexisting heart conditions, or individuals that have had previous heart procedures are at a higher risk of contracting the infection. There are three leading culprit bacteria that cause Endocarditis. These are the Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococci, and Staphylococci bacterium. These bacteria’s …show more content…
This bacterium is found in dental plaque. The plaque on our gums and teeth is comprised of a complex structure created by Streptococcus mutans that allow the bacteria to live and survive successfully in our mouths. When these mutans are active they are producing an acid that slowly begins to erode our gums and teeth. Even though this bacterium occurs naturally in even the healthiest of mouths, when one undergoes a dental procedure or your gums sustain a trauma such as flossing too forcefully causing them to bleed, the bacteria is released and enters the blood stream. In most instances your immune system will serve its purpose to detect the foreign bacteria in the blood and resolve itself on its own. In the instance that an individual with a heart condition contracts Endocarditis, the Streptococcus mutans are allowed to travel greater distances without being detected by the immune system, where they are allowed to travel quickly to the heart and penetrate the cells in the heart valves. Microbiologist Dr. Jacqueline Abranches and her team at the University of Florida conducted studies of the Streptococcus mutan and actively identified a collagen binding protein identified as the CNM protein that allows a Streptococcus mutan to infiltrate weakened parts of the