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Change to Prophylaxis Protocol for Heart Patients

February 18th, 2008 · No Comments

The American Dental Association, Infectious Diseases Society, and American Academy of Pediatrics have informed the American Heart Association that experts believe some heart patients who are administered pre-prophy antibiotics no longer need them. Patients with heart conditions are routinely given antibiotics before prophy treatment to prevent the risk for infective endocartitis, or IE. Those that no longer need this precaution include patients with mitral valve prolapse, rheumatic heart disease, bicuspid valve disease, calcified aortic stenosis, or congenital heart conditions like ventrical or atrial septal defect or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Cardiac patients who still need pre-prophy antibiotics include those with artificial heart valves, a history of IE, unrepaired or partially repaired congenital heart defects, or a cardiac transplant that has a heart valve problem. Read the full article, including tips for heart patients here.

Tags: Hygiene · Uncategorized