Now the American Heart Association has come up with new guidelines and recommend a short-term course of antibiotics only for individuals who are at a high risk for developing a bacterial infection of the valves. These include people with:
- A mechanical prosthetic heart valve
- Natural prosthetic heart valves obtained from animals
or cadavers
- Valve repair using prosthetic material
- A prior history of infective endocarditis
- Most congenital (from birth) heart abnormalities,
even if the abnormality has been repaired
Individuals who are at low risk and do not require antibiotics include the following?
- Those with innocent heart murmurs
- Mitral valve prolapse without regurgitation
or valvular leaflet thickening
- Mild tricuspid regurgitation
- Individuals with Coronary artery disease or
those who have undergone bypass surgery
- Simple atrial septal defect (hole in the heart)
- Individuals who undergo angioplasty or ballooning
of their coronary vessels
- Those with prior history of rheumatic fever but
normal valves
- Those who have pacemakers or other similar devices
In the low risk group, it is now believed that antibiotics are unnecessary and may cause more health problems such as allergies.
Individuals who are at risk of developing infective endocarditis should maintain good oral and dental hygiene. This may include a visit to the dentist for a check up, regular tooth brushing and use of dental floss. These preventive measures can prevent plaque-forming bacteria from sticking to your gums and teeth
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