1. New Guidelines from AHA regarding infective endocarditis
Miriam Ika, Jessica Hilton, Emily Lloyd, Michelle Fambrough, Francesca Mustari, Lori Brannin, Chelsa Bringhurst, Kevin Echols

2. New Findings
For decades, American Heart Association recommended that patients with certain heart conditions take antibiotics shortly before dental treatment.
Antibiotics were taken with a belief that they would prevent infective endocarditis (IE), previously referred to as bacterial endocarditis.
In April 2007, the AHA published new guidelines with good news: the AHA recommends that most of these patients no longer need short-term antibiotics as a preventive measure before their dental treatment.

3. America’s Associations in Agreement
American Dental Association
The Infectious Diseases Society of America
Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
All groups participated in the development of the new guidelines and it has approved the new standards.

4. Most Effective Treatment
The guidelines are based on a growing body of scientific evidence that shows the risks of taking preventive antibiotics are greater than the benefits for most patients.

5. Risks
Adverse reactions to antibiotics from mild to potentially severe cases.
Inappropriate use of antibiotics can also lead to the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Unnecessary use of antibiotics could cause allergic reactions and dangerous antibiotic resistance.

6. Evidence of Findings
Scientists found no compelling evidence that taking antibiotics prior to a dental procedure prevents IE in patients who are at risk of developing a heart infection.
Their hearts already are often exposed to bacteria from the mouth, which can enter their bloodstream during basic activities such as brushing or flossing.
The new guidelines are based on a comprehensive review of published studies that suggest IE is more likely to occur as a result of everyday activities then from a dental procedure.

7. Patients include those with:
The recommendations for preventative antibiotics are to be used for the following groups of at risk people
Patients include those with:
Artificial heart valves
A history of having had IE
Certain specific, serious congenital heart conditions including :
Unrepaired or incompletely repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with palliative shunts and conduits.

8. Continuation…
a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter interventions, during the first six months after the procedure.
Any repaired congenital heart defect with residual defect at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or prosthetic device.
A cardiac transplant which develops a problem in a heart valve.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Heart valves damaged by conditions such as rheumatic fever.