Intravenous Drug Use: Direct introduction of pathogens into the bloodstream.
Rheumatic Heart Disease: Damaged heart valves predispose to bacterial colonization.
Prosthetic Heart Valves: Foreign materials in the heart increase infection risk.
Congenital Heart Disease: Structural abnormalities can facilitate bacterial adherence.
Recent Dental or Surgical Procedures: Potential sources of bacteremia.
Clinical Signs: Persistent fever, new or changing heart murmur, and peripheral signs such as splinter hemorrhages, Janeway lesions, Osler nodes, and Roth spots are indicative of endocarditis.
