Which is a common risk factor for infective endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus?

Which is a common risk factor for infective endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus?

• A. Intravenous drug use
• B. Adherence to a low-cholesterol diet
• C. Regular dental hygiene only
• D. Prior history of constipation

Answer: (A)

A common risk factor for infective endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is intravenous drug use. When people inject drugs, nonsterile techniques can introduce skin bacteria directly into the bloodstream, leading to bacteremia. Staphylococcus aureus is highly virulent and can rapidly seed heart valves, often affecting normal valves and frequently involving the right side of the heart (like the tricuspid valve) in IV drug users. This contrasts with organisms like viridans streptococci, which are more linked to dental issues and damaged valves, and with factors like diet or constipation, which don’t meaningfully increase the risk of S. aureus endocarditis. Regular dental hygiene lowers risk for viridans group endocarditis rather than S. aureus endocarditis, and a low-cholesterol diet or constipation history aren’t relevant risk factors for this infection.

A common risk factor for infective endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus aureus is intravenous drug use. When people inject drugs, nonsterile techniques can introduce skin bacteria directly into the bloodstream, leading to bacteremia. Staphylococcus aureus is highly virulent and can rapidly seed heart valves, often affecting normal valves and frequently involving the right side of the heart (like the tricuspid valve) in IV drug users. This contrasts with organisms like viridans streptococci, which are more linked to dental issues and damaged valves, and with factors like diet or constipation, which don’t meaningfully increase the risk of S. aureus endocarditis. Regular dental hygiene lowers risk for viridans group endocarditis rather than S. aureus endocarditis, and a low-cholesterol diet or constipation history aren’t relevant risk factors for this infection.