Endocarditis is a rare medical condition. It is characterized by the inflammation of the heart valves and the endocardium. It occurs when bacteria move into the blood circulation and attack the heart’s lining. This is why it is also known as infective or bacterial endocarditis. Infective endocarditis should not be left untreated because it can cause permanent damage and eventually death.
Endocarditis can be acute or chronic, depending upon the state of the disease. Acute endocarditis develops rapidly within days, while chronic endocarditis takes months or weeks to develop.
Studies have revealed that it occurs more commonly in men than in women. It is also prevalent in people with weaker immune systems and in those who have conditions like:
● Damaged heart valves
● Cardiomyopathy (Enlargement of the heart muscle)
● Narrowing of heart valves
Normally, your immune system destroys harmful organisms and prevents them from causing any serious problems within your body. But when microorganisms bypass your immune system, they tend to cause many dysfunctions, endocarditis being one of them.
Bacteria such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus are the main agents behind this infection. Other causative agents include:
● Enterococci
● Streptococcus Bovis
● Viridian streptococcus
● Coagulase-negative staphylococci
● Haemophilus influenzae
● Fungi
Factors that lead to infective endocarditis are:
● Drug addiction
● Artificial heart valve
● Improper dental hygiene
● Previous infective endocarditis
● Impaired immune system
● Abnormal heart valve due to valve replacement surgery
● Heart defect by birth
● Chlamydia and gonorrhea (sexually transmitted infections)
● Intestinal disorders
● Implanted devices such as pacemakers
Here is a list of the most common symptoms of infective endocarditis.
● Fever
● Chills
● Sweating
● Skin rash
● Headache
● Flu
● Nausea
● Sepsis
● Cough
● Chest pain
● Blood in urine
● Unusual heart sounds
● Pain in joints and muscles
● Shortness of breath
● Unhealed cuts
● Swollen legs, feet, and abdomen
● Splinter hemorrhages
● Difficulty in swallowing
● Osler nodes (fingers and toes having painful nodes)
Bacterial endocarditis can be diagnosed in several ways.
1. Complete blood count.
2. CT scan: It shows whether the bacteria has affected your brain or chest.
3. X-ray: It shows if the bacteria has affected your lungs or not.
4. C reactive protein.
5. Endocardiogram: It shows abscesses, holes, or any kind of growth on heart valves.
6. Blood cultures.
7. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate: In this diagnostic test, a test tube is filled with liquid. Next, the blood cells are introduced into the tube. The speed with which the blood cells fall to the bottom is directly proportional to the incidence of an inflammatory condition, such as endocarditis.
Your treatment options for endocarditis include long-term antibiotic therapy and surgery.
● Blood samples are taken before prescribing.
● Antibiotics such as vancomycin or ampicillin/sulbactam and an aminoglycoside are prescribed. For medications, you can book an online appointment at Shifa4U.
● If the patient has prosthetic valves, then rifampin is also added to the treatment regimen.
● Therapy extends from 4 to 6 weeks.
It is reserved for chronic endocarditis. Surgery is the choice of treatment when:
● The patient experiences a stroke.
● There are large lumps or abscesses within the lining of the heart.
● The patient doesn’t respond to antibiotics or antifungal treatment.
● Blood starts flowing back to the heart.
● More than one blood clot is present.
● The patient has an ongoing high fever.
Dr Rizwan Uppal, the founder of IDC, believed that proper and timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment. An all under one roof diagnostic service with the name of Islamabad Diagnostic Center (IDC) Pvt. Ltd was established in the beautiful City of Islamabad more than a decade ago.
This brain child of Dr Rizwan was not possible without the support of his two brothers and Executive directors, Dr Rehan Uppal and Dr Imran Uppal. Since the day of inception, Dr Rehan has been a great assistance and immense help in IDC progress and evolution. IDC’s main strength lies in use of state of the art technology, in the hands of qualified and experienced team of doctors and technologist on 24/7 basis. There is still no such setup of equivalent scale and quality in Pakistan.
IDC is one facility where both laboratory and Radiology services. The widest spectrum of in house laboratory tests and imaging investigations are available nowhere, other than at IDC. To further widen the services of rare but important tests, IDC is now offering a unique service of sending samples to UK at The Doctors Lab (TDL), and Germany, Synlab on daily basis at no extra cost.
The small and humble setup of IDC established more than decade ago is now spreaded nationwide. IDC now has a branch network of more than 2 dozen outlets and mini IDCs, with a staff of more than 300 doctors and technologist and supporting staff, working day and night to offer the best diagnostics to the patients and doctors. IDC is actively participating in external and internal quality assurance Programs from UK EQAS and USA (CAP) , NEQAP, PNRA) and ISO certification. The IDC is also involved in academic and research activities. It is affiliated with Irsa University. IDC pathologist and doctors are part of Nafees Medical College academic faculty.
IDC has the vision to provide health for all through better medical diagnostics.
IDC has taken lead in providing all type of novel studies like Real Time PCR for Hepatitis B/C and MTB, CR DR system, latest Open MRI, Digital CMOS OPG and 4D real time ultrasonography, Digital Holter Recorder & Ambulatory BP Monitor, ETT, Spirometry, Mammography, Fluoroscopy and ECHO in Rawalpindi & Islamabad tests that are not available anywhere in Pakistan are carried out in collaboration with SynLab Services (Germany) and The Doctor’s Lab (TDL) UK. Besides quality, accuracy & reliability, IDC takes pride in offering quickest turn-around times (TAT). Special cold chain shipment is provided by FedEx & DHL to meet IDC standards.
Dr. Essa’s labortary & diagnostic center founded in 1987, has rapidly achived its reputation as one of the leading laboratories in pakistan
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Prof Dr. Essa M Abdulla recently received the Eli Lilly Gold Medal 2000, presented by Prof Ata-ur-Rahman, Federal Minister of Science & Technology, for the most outstanding Microbiologist and teacher in Pakistan. The laboratory founded in 1987,when Prof. Essa returned after having a rich teaching experience for 40 years abroad.
CERTIFIED From ISO and Our organization aspires to achieve commendable standards of performance, giving physicians and patients the personal and professional commitment they expect and deserve.
In 1996, we set out to establish a medical diagnostic center that caters to the needs of patients and diagnosticians alike. Our focus has always been on providing a quality service in a timely manner. We take pride in the fact that years later, today, with a network of collection centers in and out of Lahore, AL-Nasar Lab® & Diagnostic Centre remains the provider of a wide variety of medical services for the most competitive rates in the industry. Our Mission is to provide reliable, timely, high quality, cost-effective and innovative diagnostic services & information to our patients and clients
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Our quality management system is certified by TUV AUSTRIA.
Excel Lab was founded upon core values of patient priority and accurate testing. During the past 25 years we have built up a legendary reputation for excellence in both, from a small local lab we have grown to become a regional network. However, our goal remains unchanged – to serve each patient with the same care and service that is at the core of our organization.
Excel Labs utilizes state of the art equipment from top international manufacturers. In addition, the reagents used for testing are purchased directly from the authorized dealers in Pakistan to ensure that “cold chain” requirements are met. All this, along with a rigorous QC and QA program ensure that all results are of international standard.
Excel Labs is the only lab in Pakistan to have participated in the external Quality Assurance program of the College of American Pathologists for more than 20 years. By doing so, we have successfully met the CLIA standards specified for US labs
Excel Labs has also developed and implemented a quality management system that complies with the international standard ISO 9001:2008.
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The hospital itself has been operational for over 5 years, providing healthcare facilities to both walk-in and corporate clients. We have over 50 foreign qualified consultants at our facility representing all major specialties such as Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Dermatology, Oncology, General Surgery, Dentistry, Palliative care etc. The hospital also offers round the clock Emergency Services and Home Services including visits from doctors and co blood sample collection obtained from the privacy and convenience of a patient’s own home – at no extra cost.
Al-Razi truly excels is in providing outstanding Radiology Services with its state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment which includes a Digital X-Ray, Dual Source 64 slice CT, and an Open bore 1.5T MRI. This equipment is by far the most highly advanced in Pakistan.
The Diagnostic Center. Aznostics private Limited is a company dedicated to providing high quality and ethical radiology and pathology diagnostics services. Established in 2011, it has in a short time developed a reputation for providing excellent consultative and investigative services and has opened satellite branches in Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot. We have a full range of radiology and pathology services.
We are a group of leading physicians most of whom have trained overseas and held teaching and research appointments Aznostics has a special interest in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in particular. We hold a weekly tumor board meeting for this and are heavily involved in a charitable low cost hepatitis screening and treatment program. We are a socially responsible group and take part in many health related initiatives including blood camps, anti-smoking campaigns and hepatitis awareness.
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The combined experience of our management teams, help our clients to interact and discuss any enquiries they may have about the laboratory or radiology services provided by the Diagnostics center Network.
Working as one highly efficient team, our supporting departments are confident in providing the highest quality services throughout the Pakistan. Our clinical management teams are professional, highly qualified scientists that have vast experience in the field of medicine, clinical pathology and information technology. Such a formidable combination of scientific and managerial expertise, allow us to assist our referring doctors and clinicians.
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Citi lab and Research Centre has an extended nationwide network of laboratory collection centers running under strict guidelines and standard operating procedures to ensure provision of quality testing services to people all over Pakistan. An advanced patient data management system is available where test results are saved within the labs Information System, an in-house built software system, and can be easily accessed online.
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