Prosthetic valve endocarditis is inflammation that occurs as a complication of the implantation of an artificial valve in the heart.
Patients with prosthetic heart valves or who have had one previous episode of infective endocarditis should receive chemoprophylaxis according to the current UK recommendations.
For our 7th issue, Black Poppy wanted to pick his brains about his experience of having endocarditis.
Anyone can develop endocarditis, but you are most at risk if you have underlying heart valve disease or have certain congenital heart diseases.
Less common types of potentially fatal infections include infective endocarditis.