Is it true that Patients with rheumatic heart disease may be prescribed lifelong antibiotic prophylaxis for invasive medical procedures?

Answer 1

The prescribing of prophylactic antibiotics to SPECIFIC HEART PATIENTS prior to medical treatments with teeth cleaning is something that was routinely done up until a few years ago. It was mainly done for people who had to have their teeth cleaned or restorative invasive procedures done. I am not familiar with the prescribing of it for any other medical procedures. I am dental hygienist. It was done for people who had heart murmurs primarily, but was also prescribed for people who had heart surgery as well. The very specific prophylactic antibiotic guidelines for people to receive the prophylactic antibiotic prior to dental procedures can be found at the American Dental Association's website if you are interested. They were changed a few years ago because of concern that people would become resistant to antibiotics. I hope this helps you. I will say, however, and this is important, that ultimately the M.D.'s of our patients has the final word. If a physician feels that the patient should be on the antibiotic despite the ADA's guidelines that is what we abide by. We don't know the patients history as specifically and in depth as their physician. There may be extenuating circumstances and reasons the physician wishes the patient to be on the antibiotic. This is usually not the case though. Their physicians usually fall in line with what the ADA guidelines are.