Investigation determines that Campbell's Infective Endocarditis death was "possibly avoidable but not very likely".

[Samsoncat]

bbc.co.uk/sport/football/ar...

Being an infective endocarditis survivor myself, I find the verdict puzzling and disappointing. I'm not a cardiologist and know not of Campbells condition, but I would have thought he could have survived if he had iv antibiotic treatment earlier.

When I was eventually diagnosed with IE and in hospital receiving treatment, I understood that I had a good ~80% chance of pulling through.

Before my diagnosis, I was ill for 3 months and saw multiple GPs. I even saw a consultant cardiologist about my longstanding heart murmur and leaking mitral valve. The cardiologist could access recent GP blood tests and see that my infection markers were raised, but this did not prompt that I might have IE. After my third visit to A&E in 2 months, I had a blood culture test and infective endocarditis was diagnosed.

I hope big Kevs case raises awareness of IE with GPs and hospital staff.

If someone has a heart murmur and known heart valve issues, then there are red flags for suspected IE - infection lasting more than 2 weeks, fatigue, cough and weight loss.

#endocarditis

[Sion52]

Hello, yes I totally agree early intervention with antibiotics may have meant a different outcome. I was admitted to A&E several times in 2017 with high grade fever, weight loss and infection markers of 221. Prior to feeling unwell I was a keen fell runner with no other health conditions. It was only on the 4th admission following a consultation with a private consultant who confirmed my heart valve was leaking and IE was suspected. Later confirmed by blood cultures and an echo. Thankfully, I received the right treatment and later mitral valve replacement. I suspect part of the problem is that hospitals do not have a specialised IE team and IE is considered a rare condition.