refers to inflammation of the heart lining (endocardium) due to bacterial infection. The infection ends up causing damage to the heart valves and creates an impaired pumping action of the heart. Fever and other systemic symptoms ensue, including embolism and in some cases, heart failure. The infection can be acquired by unhygienic intravenous drug use.
BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS: “A person suffering bacterial endocarditis may have heart damage in some way, due to a bacterial infection caused by intravenous drug abuse.”