UK dentists should give antibiotics to patients at risk of heart infection – study

UK dentists should give antibiotics to patients at risk of heart infection – study Dentists in the UK should be encouraged to give antibiotics to patients at high risk of life-threatening heart infection before invasive procedures, a study has found.

Research suggests bacteria from the mouth entering the bloodstream during dental treatment could explain 30% to 40% of infective endocarditis cases. The rare but life-threatening condition occurs when the inner lining of the heart chambers and valves become infected. The Guardian

See also:

• Antibiotic Prophylaxis Against Infective Endocarditis Before Invasive Dental Procedures (abstract) Journal of the American College of Cardiology
• Dentists should give antibiotics to high-risk patients to help prevent life-threatening heart infection University of Sheffield
• Infective endocarditis following invasive dental procedures: IDEA case-crossover study NIHR