Bacterial endocarditis

Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart. Bacteria (germs) enter the bloodstream and lodge inside the heart, where they multiply and cause infection.

• Bacterial endocarditis may occur in a person or any age who has congenital (present at birth) heart disease (CHD), or it may occur in people without heart disease.
• Bacterial endocarditis does not occur very often, but when it does, it can cause serious heart damage.

Here at Children’s Hospital Boston, the Boston Adult Congenital Heart (BACH) and Pulmonary Hypertension Program provides long-term inpatient and outpatient care and advanced therapeutic options for patients with congenital heart disease and/or pulmonary hypertension as they reach and progress through adulthood.

The center promotes and supports clinical and scientific research for the advancement of care of these patients and is a leader in the education of providers caring for this unique population.