“Infection in this population often results in central nervous system involvement and septicemia, but may include pneumonia and endocarditis.”

“Causes of chronic mitral regurgitation include infective endocarditis, degenerative valvular disease and rheumatic fever.”

“Diphtheroid infection is a rare cause of endocarditis and, when present, it usually affects immunocompromised hosts or prosthetic valves.”

“Since the advent of antibiotics, however, most infections associated with cerebral abscesses are localized to the lungs and endocardium.”

“It is characterized by the growth of a thick meshwork of fibrous tissues within the endocardium and heart valves.”

“The immune system usually kills these organisms, but sometimes they survive and affect the heart valve or another section of the endocardium.”