What is Bacterial Endocarditis?
Bacterial endocarditis is a serious infection of the heart valves or the inner lining of the heart. It can occur whenever bacteria enter into your bloodstream and attach to your heart. Bacterial endocarditis is a real threat to some patients with heart disease, which is why prevention is very important.
The risk of bacterial endocarditis can be greatly reduced by taking pre-procedure antibiotics. Your physician will determine if you need intravenous (IV) antibiotics or if you need the pill form of antibiotics. Usually this is all that is needed for prevention of bacterial endocarditis.
Who is at risk?
Patients with the following diagnosis are at risk for Bacterial Endocarditis:
- Patients who have had any type of prosthetic valve surgery
- Previous history of bacterial endocarditis
- Rheumatic Heart disease
- Congenital Heart abnormalities - discuss with your cardiologist
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy - discuss with your cardiologist
- Mitral Valve Prolapse - discuss with your cardiologist
- History of surgically constructed systemic pulmonary shunts or conduits
When and why you are at risk
Prior to any invasive procedure, please notify your physician or dentist of your heart disease and the medications you are currently taking. Your physician or dentist should be able to prescribe an antibiotic for you. If you are unsure if you need an antibiotic for a procedure you are having or need a prescription, please consult with your cardiologist or the cardiac nurse specialist. Bacteria may enter the bloodstream through some surgical or dental procedures, such as:
- Dental cleaning and extractions
- Periodontal & Endodontic procedures
- Bronchoscopy
- Surgeries involving the respiratory tract
- Gastrointestinal surgeries
- Urology procedures & surgeries (Prostate surgery, cystoscopy, uretheral dilation)