Endocarditis from Cellulitis

[seashells]

My husband fvisited the ER and was diagnosed with cellulitis and put on antibiotics. Two months later her suddenly died. His organs were put up for transplant and they discovered "bacteria in the heart valves" which I am assuming is endocarditis. Could this have been prevented from his ER visit?

[legalnurse]

Seashells: There are a lot of medical questions here. Different states have different requirements as far as what is a medical examiner's case. There usually is a point after an ER visit that then ends in a death that must be reviewed. Was his? Was an autopsy preformed? Did he have heart history? Most importantly what was the listed cause of death? Did it relate to the cellulitis? A complete medical record review might point to problems in the ER visit or problems subsequently. Was he admitted to the hospital and then died there?

[seashells]

His death was not reviewed to the best of my knowledge. He had an autopsy that listed two occluded arteries as the cause of death and later found about the endocarditis from the Organ bank. Trying to get in touch with the pathologist but he has not called back yet. He was not admitted to the hospital. He died suddenly and quickly about two months later. There were not able to bring him back at all. I was not with him for his Cellulitis ER visit. Can I as a spouse request his hospital records from them. I am a medical transcriptionist so understand some. Thanks for any help.

[legalnurse]

Seashells: You should be able to get his medical records. Also get all the ER records (they are usually separate so ask specific). Also ask for the medical records for when he was brought in when he died. The abmbulance records would also be important. If the autopsy showed occluded arteries and that was the cause of death then that is what would be argued how he died. Still an interesting case. See what the records lead to.

[seashells]

Thanks. Trying to work through my grief but realizing this might not have been what I thought it was. Will work on obtaining his records this week and will let you know what I find out!

[royce]

You also, should get all records of drugs that was prescribed to him from local pharmacy that filled his prescriptions. Also, get all xrays, MRI, and other exams that was done on him... blood work test, uriane samples, computer records of medical exams; medical admission paperwork from hospital.... My wife died from endcortias 1 year ago; she was midiagnosied too... Royce_Fowler@hotmail.com. LOL

[sooze]

Legally, lowest standard of medical care is all that is required!
A family member was also diagnosed with facial Cellulitis and given amoxocillian for 10 days. His BP 138/40, headaches, vision, fever, night sweats.
He also had been receiving cortisone treatment elsewhere for three years 6-8 weeks apart. The doctor did not put him in a higher risk catagory due to the cortisone shots so no blood or urine testing was done for the Cellulitis.
Patient was told to follow up if he felt worse BUT he felt better and the facial sore went away. Patient misinterrupts this as being healed.
About two months later he he suffered a stroke secondary to subaccute endocarditis from a strep blood infection.
He had a heart valve replacement which revealed the the bacterial infection had been going on long before the Cellulitis.
So much devastation could have been prevented with further analysis of his blood which would have determined the Cellulitis came from a brewing strep infection. Seems so simple.
However, the doctor had covered his bases when he told him to seek medical attention if it got worse. He did, in the ER!

[Unregistered]

Your Scaring Me . I Have Cellulits On /in My Scalp . They Gave Me Bactruim Been On It For One Day .it Hurts So Much!!!
Any Suggestions???

[Unregistered]

Careful follow-up of the patient to determine infection is completely gone.

[Unregistered.]

I think endocarditis is a complication from facial cellulitis. I don't think amoxicillian is the correct therapy for facial cellulitis especially with the steroids. This could possibly have made it worse.