Editing Infective endocarditis (section)

===Risk factors===
Risk factors for infective endocarditis are based on the premise that in a healthy individual, [[bacteremia]] (bacteria entering the bloodstream) is cleared quickly with no adverse consequences.<ref name="NEJM Review, Hoen" /> However, if a heart valve is damaged, the bacteria can attach themselves to the valve, resulting in infective endocarditis. Additionally, in individuals with weakened immune systems, the concentration of bacteria in the blood can reach levels high enough to increase the probability that some will attach to the valve. Some significant risk factors are listed here:<ref name="Hubers2020"/><ref name="NEJM Review, Hoen" />
* [[Artificial heart valve]]s
* Intracardiac devices, such as [[implantable cardioverter-defibrillators]]
* Unrepaired cyanotic [[congenital heart defects]]
* History of infective endocarditis
* Neoplastic disease
* [[Chronic rheumatic pericarditis#Rheumatic heart disease|Chronic rheumatic heart disease]], which is an autoimmune response to repeated ''[[Streptococcus pyogenes]]'' infection (mostly in the developing world)
* Age-related degenerative valvular lesions
* Congenital heart valve abnormalities
* [[Hemodialysis]], a medical procedure that filters the blood of individuals with kidney failure
* Poor oral hygiene
* IVDU (IV drug user)
* Co-existing immunosuppressing conditions, such as [[diabetes mellitus]], [[alcohol use disorder]], chronic liver disease, and [[HIV/AIDS]]