In a patient with a high fever and new heart murmur, what should be suspected?

A patient presenting with a high fever and a new heart murmur raises suspicion for bacterial endocarditis. This condition is characterized by infection of the heart valves and/or endocardium, typically caused by bacteria. The combination of fever and a newly developed heart murmur is particularly indicative of this infective process, as the infection often leads to the formation of vegetations on the heart valves, which can create turbulent blood flow detectable as a murmur.

Bacterial endocarditis commonly occurs in individuals with existing heart conditions or risk factors, such as prosthetic heart valves, previous endocarditis, or certain valvular heart diseases. In acute cases, patients can present with fever, chills, and a new murmur due to the rapid progression of the disease.

The other conditions listed do not fit the presenting symptoms as specifically as bacterial endocarditis. Acute myocardial infarction may present with chest pain and changes in the electrocardiogram rather than fever and a new murmur. Acute pericarditis may involve fever but is more commonly associated with pleuritic chest pain and pericardial friction rub rather than a persistent murmur. Restrictive cardiomyopathy presents with symptoms of heart failure and does not typically cause acute infection or fever