Delays have dangerous ends.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE King Henry VI, Part 2

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a microbial infection of the valvular and nonvalvular endothelium of the heart. The classification of IE as acute is based on the clinical presentation and progression of untreated disease and pathogenic virulence. Acute bacterial endocarditis (ABE) usually occurs on normal heart valves and is caused by virulent microorganisms, such as Staphylococcus aureus, β-hemolytic streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, causing fulminant and metastatic disease with rapid valvular destruction. The prognosis in ABE is based on the ability of the microorganism to cause destruction of the valvular and the nonvalvular endocardium.