Update the dental antibiotic guidelines to protect high-risk heart patients, urge researchers

The research found that dental patients at high risk of infective endocarditis, a life-threatening infection of the heart valves that causes heart failure and strokes, should be given antibiotics before undergoing invasive treatment such as extractions or oral surgery. The University of Sheffield says the study provides evidence that current UK guidelines could be putting high-risk patients at unnecessary extra risk when undergoing invasive dental procedures.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious heart infection which can be fatal. Thirty per cent of people will die within one year of diagnosis. In around 30-40 per cent of cases it is caused by bacteria that come from the mouth either from poor oral hygiene or during invasive dental procedures.