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The American Heart (AHA) has revised the guidelines for the prevention of infective endocarditis (heart infection). This is the guideline that dictates that those with cardiac abnormalities should receive a dose of preventative antibiotics
one hour before any medical or dental procedure. Many patients that did receive antibiotics before procedures will not require them under the new guidelines.
The major changes and reasons for change in the updated recommendations include:
- The AHA concluded that only an extremely small number of cases of infective endocarditis might be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures and that the administration of amoxicillin (or another antibiotic) may not be effective anyway.
- Infective endocarditis prophylaxis for dental procedures should be recommended only for patients with cardiac conditions associated with highest risk of adverse outcome.
- Infective endocarditis is more likely to result from exposure from daily activities than from a dental or other medical procedure.
- The risk of antibiotic associated side effects outweigh the benefit of prophylaxis.
- Maintenance of optimal oral health and hygiene (brushing, flossing, visiting your dentist twice a year) is more important than prophylactic antibiotics before a dental procedure.
Cardiac patients that should still receive prophylaxis include patients with:
A prosthetic heart valve
Previous diagnosis of infective endocarditis
Congenital Heart Disease
Unrepaired heart disease – heart surgery is planned in the future
Surgically repaired heart disease with residual defects
Patients with cardiac abnormalities that will not benefit from antibiotic use before procedures are:
Any other patients that have received prophylaxis in the past and do not have the above named conditions
Any patients with Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) or mitral valve regurgitation
If you are unsure of your child's cardiac problem, please call the office so we can check his (her) record and advise you. |
