Antibiotic Information

In April, 2007 The American Heart Association changed the recommendations regarding the use of antibiotics by Mitral Valve Prolapse patients prior to dental procedures. Preventive antibiotics before a dental procedure are advised for patients with:

artificial heart valves
a history of having had infective endocarditis
certain specific, serious congenital (present from birth) heart conditions, including:
- unrepaired or incompletely repaired cyanotic congenital heart disease, including those with palliative shunts and conduits
- a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device, whether placed by surgery or by catheter intervention, 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 a prosthetic device
- a cardiac transplant which develops a problem in a heart valve.

“Except for the conditions listed above, antibiotic prophylaxis is no longer recommended for any other form of congenital heart disease,” the statement said.

Full statement available by clicking here