Antibiotics for Cardiac Conditions

Cardiac conditions associated with the highest risk of adverse outcome from endocarditis for which prophylaxis with oral surgery procedures is reasonable:

1) Prosthetic cardiac valve or prosthetic material used for cardiac valve repair 

2) Previous infective endocarditis 

3) Congenital heart disease (CHD)* 

      -Unrepaired cyanotic CHD, including palliative shunts and conduits

     -Completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by 

      catheter intervention, during the first six months after the procedure† 

      -Repaired CHD with residual defects at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or 

       prosthetic device (which inhibit endothelialization) 

4) Cardiac transplantation recipients who develop cardiac valvulopathy

* Except for the conditions listed above, antibiotic prophylaxis is no longer recommended for any other form of CHD 

† Prophylaxis is reasonable because endothelialization of prosthetic material occurs within six months after the procedure

Prevention of Infective Endocarditis: Guidelines from the American Heart Association JADA 2008;139(1):3S-24S.

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