What is endocarditis?

• A. Infection of the interior lining of the heart, which can be hospital or community acquired.
• B. Infection of the interior lining of the heart that occurs only in hospital settings.
• C. Inflammation of the pericardial sac.
• D. Enlargement of the heart chambers.

Answer: (B)

Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart, usually involving the heart valves. It is not limited to hospital patients; it can be acquired in the community or in healthcare settings. This is especially true for people with risk factors like prosthetic valves, prior valve disease, IV drug use, or intravascular devices. So the idea that it occurs only in hospital settings is incomplete. The other options describe different heart conditions: inflammation of the pericardial sac is pericarditis, and enlargement of the heart chambers is cardiomegaly or chamber dilation, not endocarditis.