Master Bacterial Endocarditis with Picmonic for Physician Assistant

Prolonged fever is a common symptom of bacterial endocarditis, occurring in over 95% of individuals. It is also commonly accompanied by malaise and fatigue.

Growth of a vegetation on a heart valve in bacterial endocarditis can cause a new or changing heart murmur.

Janeway lesions are non tender small erythematous lesions on the palms or soles that are extremely small, only measuring few millimeters in diameter. These lesions are caused by septic emboli with deposition of bacteria. These lesions are typically in distal locations, flat and painless.

Splinter hemorrhages are small blood clots found under the nail bed that can be caused by clots that migrate from an affected heart valve in endocarditis to the capillaries under the nail bed. The blood clots tend to run vertically under the nails and are a nonspecific finding of bacterial endocarditis.

Roth's spots are retinal hemorrhages with white or pale spots caused by immune complex mediated vasculitis. Roth's spots are composed of coagulated fibrin and can be a sign of bacterial endocarditis.

These nodes are painful raised red lesions on the fingers or toe pads commonly caused by infective endocarditis. These nodes result from immune complex deposition that activates an inflammatory response. It is important to note that these lesions are painful due to activation of the inflammatory response as opposed to non tender Janeway lesions caused by vascular phenomenon.

Anemia is a frequent occurrence in bacterial endocarditis although the exact mechanism is poorly understood.