Endocarditis

Question 1

What type of patients may require antibiotic prophylaxis as they are at greater risk of IE?

Answer 1

Pts with prosthetic valve or prosthetic material used for cardiac valve repair.
Pts with previous episode of IE.
Pts with congenital heart disease

Question 2

What antibiotic prophylaxis may be used for patients at risk of IE?

Answer 2

Amoxicillin 3g powder sachet 60mins before procedure in practice.

Clindamycin 600mg 60mins before procedure in practice.

Question 3

What is infective endocarditis?

Answer 3

It is a rare <1:10,000 annually but life threatening infection of the endocardium, particularly affecting the heart valves caused from a transient bacteraemia.