The American Heart Association recommends preventive (prophylactic) antibiotics for some people who are at increased risk for developing endocarditis.1 These people should have preventive antibiotics before they have certain procedures that may release bacteria into the bloodstream.
If you are at increased risk for endocarditis, talk with your doctor about the need for preventive antibiotics before having any of these procedures or surgeries. Although antibiotics can reduce the risk for developing endocarditis, taking them does not provide 100% protection.
If your doctor determines that you need to take preventive antibiotics, they generally are given 30 minutes to 1 hour before the procedure.
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References
Citations
Wilson W, et al. (2007). Prevention of endocarditis. Guidelines from the American Heart Association. A guideline from the American Heart Association Rheumatic Fever, Endocarditis, and Kawasaki Disease Committee, Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, and the Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia, and the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Interdisciplinary Working Group. Circulation. Published online April 19, 2007 (doi:10.1161/circulationaha.106.183095).
Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Updated | April 25, 2007 |
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