Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Infective Endocarditis Prevention in the U.K.

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

After the publication of the 2007 American Heart Association infective endocarditis (IE) prevention guidelines that markedly restricted the use of antibiotic prophylaxis, no increase in IE incidence was reported in several short-term studies from the U.S. What happened to IE incidence after the implementation of the U.K. guidelines (NICE clinical guideline 64) in March 2008, when a complete cessation of antibiotic prophylaxis for IE in all individuals was recommended? To find out, researchers did a retrospective secular-trend study. They analyzed data for the prescription of antibiotic prophylaxis for IE from January 2004, and hospital discharge episode statistics for patients with a primary diagnosis of IE from January 2000, through March …

Reviewing Author

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Beat J. Meyer, MD

Disclosures

Leadership positions in professional societiesBern Heart Foundation (President); International Academy of Medicine, Bern, Switzerland (Director)

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Infective Endocarditis Prevention in the U.K.

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Reviewing Author