How pneumonia bacteria can compromise heart health

(PLOS) Bacterial pneumonia in adults carries an elevated risk for adverse cardiac events (such as heart failure, arrhythmias, and heart attacks) that contribute substantially to mortality -- but how the heart is compromised has been unclear. A study published on Sept. 18 in PLOS Pathogens now demonstrates that Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacterium responsible for most cases of bacterial pneumonia, can invade the heart and cause the death of heart muscle cells.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news