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Infective endocarditis, also called bacterial endocarditis, is an infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream and settle in the heart lining, a heart valve or a blood vessel.

The allegations stemmed from a series of inspections conducted after an outbreak of bacterial endocarditis among Vecchione’s patients.

By 9:08 p.m., he said, Corritore had been pronounced dead from sepsis due to bacterial endocarditis - an infection that had reached her heart.

“If bacteria get under the gums and into the bloodstream, they can impact different organs that can cause conditions like bacterial endocarditis, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, diabetes, a lot of things,” he says.

The Lucas County Coroner’s Office ruled the death natural, but the cause of death was valvular heart disease because of bacterial endocarditis linked to IV drug abuse, meaning an infection entered the bloodstream and settled in her heart valve.